Spurs play Man Utd this afternoon at White Hart Lane (Arsenal’s bung to TFL means that the Victoria Line is closed on a Spurs home weekend again), which leaves me wondering which random refereeing decision we’ll be foiled by this year.
Looking at the list below, it’s a while since we’ve had a random sending off, so I’m putting money on Benoit A&E getting red-carded for bumping into Wayne Rooney.
April 09: Utd 5-2 Spurs
Spurs were 2-0 up at half time, and doing ok in the second period, until Michael Carrick (still a player I love) went down over Gomes’ dive at his feet, and a penalty was duly awarded. Gomes got the ball comfortably before Carrick ran into him, but this being Old Trafford, that’s not allowed. Utd scored another 4 goals in the following half hour, which means we can’t entirely blame the ref, but he certainly helped them break the seal on our defence.
Feb 07: Spurs 0-4 Utd
Er, another thumping in terms of the result, but coming up to half time it was 0-0, we were absolutely in the game, and then Ronaldo did that for which he is known, and lay slain on the ground in the area after not being touched by Steed Malbranque. Penalty was scored, and we fell apart in the 2nd half. Even when Rio Ferdinand had to go in goal, Robbie Keane couldn’t score a one-on-one against him. Also I think Paul Scholes scored for Utd, despite committing about 8 yellow card offences, and a couple of straight-red tackles, in the first half.
Jan 05: Utd 0-0 Spurs
The most famous robbing- Pedro Mendes scored from the centre-circle, and none of the officials appeared to notice the ball going 2 yards over the goal-line. Shown above, just in case you’ve forgotten.
Mar 02: Utd 4-0 Spurs
Yes, another tonking. But again, 0-0 until Mauricio Tarricco pulled back Paul Scholes on the edge of the D. Depsite 2 central defenders being between Scholes and the goal, the ref sent Tarricco off, and gave a free-ki… oh, no: actually, he gave a penalty.
I’m sure there are plenty of dodgy decisions that have gone Spurs’ way over the years, but very few vs Utd that spring to mind.
