Erratic referee contributes to Magpies’ cup downfall

REFEREE James Linnington hails from the Isle of Wight whose tranquil shores have a history of attracting eccentrics and misfits.

Survival guru Bear Grylls has lived on the island while it’s been the home of conspiracy theorist David Icke since the mid 1980s.

At The Hawthorns on Saturday Linnington’s decisions were often as puzzling as Icke’s theory that humanity is controlled by shape-shifting lizards.

Icke once had a career in football – first as goalkeeper for Coventry City before becoming a presenter for BBC Sport. After his error-strewn performance helped dump Newcastle out of the FA Cup, Magpies fans would be forgiven for hoping that Linnington follows Icke out of football in to a profession more befitting his particular talents.

Linnington has officiated chiefly in League One and League Two and Saturday’s game was by far the biggest he has ever handled.

There’s no suggestion that he deliberately favoured the home side but his lack of big match experience meant that he struggled to control a heated affair.

The official’s off-day saw him deny at least three strong penalty claims for the visitors while he awarded the Baggies two spot kicks to end Newcastle’s interest in the competition.

But this morning Chris Hughton probably feels more relieved than aggrieved following a defeat that allows his side to focus on the business of regaining Premier League status.

Prior to the match he warned that his squad was illequipped to challenge for league and cup honours.

His resources have become further stretched by Steven Taylor’s knee problem, Danny Simpson’s injury and Shola Ameobi’s fitness concerns.

Ryan Taylor will serve a onematch suspension after earning a straight red card for his clumsy challenge on Jerome Thomas.

Unless quality additions are made to the squad quickly this looks like being the most testing spell of Hughton’s time in permanent charge.

What must concern him is that in back-to-back contests with Roberto Di Matteo’s team there were long spells when Newcastle were made to look like a very ordinary side.

The Baggies meant business right from the kick-off on Saturday while the visitors lacked verve and purpose. The abuse heaped on the officials by Newcastle fans, players and management masked a limp first half effort.

Leading goal scorer Kevin Nolan was pressed into an attacking role but the promotion campaign is taking its toll on the Scouser whose efforts were leaden.

Smith too was made to look ponderous against the inventive Graham Dorrans, while Fabricio Coloccini and Taylor struggled to shackle the quick-thinking Chris Brunt, Roman Bednar and Jerome Thomas.

Smith was in no doubt what needs to be done.

“A few extra bodies would be nice because we have lost a few players. I don’t know the extent of Steven Taylor’s injury but fingers crossed that he is not out any longer than a couple of weeks because we don’t have any cover,” said the skipper.

Dorrans started where he left off at St James’ Park last Monday, exposing gaps in the Magpies midfield and Hughton’s side were deservedly 2-0 down by the break.

Assistant referee Duncan Street may have been harangued by the 3,000 travelling fans, not to mention Nolan and Smith, for his role in handing the home side a half time advantage.

But the official was spot on when he judged Jonas Olsson’s header to have crossed the line despite the best efforts of Jose Enrique. And he was again correct when waving for a foul on Dorrans that earned the Scot a penalty he coolly slotted past Tim Krul.

The introduction of Ameobi for the woeful Fabrice Pancrate rallied the visitors and following Andy Carroll’s wellcontrolled volley Newcastle were back in the contest.

Hughton commented: “You can see Andy’s qualities but at times he needs to get more involved in the game because for a big fella he is a decent footballer as well who needs to play a bigger part in the build-up play. But he is still a young lad that is developing his game and the first strike was a top-class effort.”

Earlier Hughton had been left fuming when Taylor was barged over in the penalty area by Dorrans and Linnington ignored the appeals.

The manager’s fury went up a notch when the official waved play on after Ameobi had been sandwiched between Tamas and Olsson when bearing down on goal.

The ref’s error was compounded when, with Ameobi prone, the Baggies’ counter attack produced a second penalty that Dorrans fired home. Taylor’s sending-off was a fair decision but by then Hughton’s anger was such that he was lucky not to be sent to the stands.

Thomas pounced on hesitation in the depleted back four to add a fourth before a superb twisting, solo run secured Caroll his sixth of the campaign.

Hughton’s side look tired and the manager faces a challenge to keep Newcastle’s promotion drive on track.

At least he won’t have to face the likes of Linnington every week.

Nevertheless, conspiracy theorists should note that the referee scheduled for Wednesday’s home game against Crystal Palace will be Russell Booth another official with very limited experience of handling high profile games.

Match facts

Goals:

1-0: Olsson (17, given a free header from Brunt’s corner)

2-0: Dorrans (31, cracked home a penalty after Kadar fouled him)

2-1: Carroll (62, fired in a low volley after Gutierrez’ great wing play)

3-1: Dorrans (72, coolly despatched penalty after Taylor upended Thomas)

4-1: Thomas (punished hesitant defence with close range finish)

4-2: Carroll 90 (stunning solo effort)

Bookings:

Kadar 31(unsporting behaviour), Krul 78(dissent), Smith 88(foul), Enrique (foul) Sending-off: R Taylor 71 (professional foul).

Referee: James Linnington (Isle of Wight) – out of his depth 1

Entertainment: ✰✰✰✰

WBA (4-5-1):

Carson 5; Olsson 7, Cech 7, Tamas 6, Jara 6; Koren 7, Brunt 7 (Zuiverloon 67,6), Thomas 7 (Mattock 77); DORRANS 8, Mulumbu 8, Bednar 7 (Miller 77). Subs (not used): Kiely (gk), Martis, Teixeira, Cox.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2):

5 Krul: No repeat of the Hawthorns heroics of last August;

3 R Taylor: Never comfortable at right-back, sloppy challenge led to sending-off

5 Coloccini: Failed to marshall the back-four with any real authority

4 Kadar: His inexperience was exploited by the Baggies

8 Enrique: Neat and tidy on the ball, very impressive throughout;

3 Pancrate: The wonderstrike against Watford is now a distant memory

6 Guthrie: One of the few with the energy to compete with the home side

5 Smith: Looked heavylegged when facing the likes of Dorrans and Koren

6 Gutierrez: A couple of decent crosses but wasteful in possession;

5 Nolan: Added nothing to the attack; solid enough when dropping into midfield

7 Carroll: Showcased his raw talent with two superbly taken goals

Subs:

Ameobi (for Pancrate 46): inspired a mini-revival before picking up a knock 5 Ranger (for Ameobi 79) Donaldson (for Guthrie 81) (not used): Harper (gk), Tozer, LuaLua, Ferguson.

MAN OF THE MATCH

JOSE Enrique – Another reassuringly solid display by the Spaniard.