Roberto De Zerbi expressed his dislike for “80% of Premier League referees” following a 1-1 draw between 10-man Brighton and Sheffield United at the Amex Stadium.
Simon Adingra scored a goal for the hosts after a great individual effort, but the momentum shifted when Mahmoud Dahoud received a red card in the 69th minute. Dahoud stamped on Ben Osborn’s achilles, and shortly after, Adam Webster scored an own goal that lifted United from the bottom of the table for the first time since September 23rd.
De Zerbi, who received a booking for his actions on the sidelines, did not dispute the referee John Brooks’ decision to show him a red card. However, the Brighton manager stated, “I am honest and straightforward in my opinion that I do not approve of 80% of English referees. This is not a new belief of mine. I do not appreciate their conduct on the field.”
In England, the use of VAR does not guarantee that the decision made is correct, unlike in other countries where it is expected to be 100% accurate. This is something I struggle to comprehend.
Brighton has scored in every one of their last 16 games, matching Everton’s Premier League record. This includes 12 matches since the beginning of the season, a feat that has not been accomplished in the top division since Liverpool in 1966-67.
The current streak of Brighton manager De Zerbi without a league victory is his longest yet, as his team has gone six matches without earning three points. “We seem to be going through an unfortunate stretch,” the Italian commented.
I believe we have dropped four points, two from the Fulham match and two from today’s match. The game was relatively even until the red card was given. From then on, Brighton dominated the field. They had the opportunity to potentially win by a score of two or three to nil, but the red card altered the course of the game. Our team lost control and our usual playing style.
Adingra made a weaving run and then scored a goal in the fifth minute after receiving a pass from Facundo Buonanotte. However, following a red card, Webster accidentally redirected Jayden Bogle’s strong cross into his own team’s goal. This marked the first time since July 2020 that United had gone two games without losing in the highest division.
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“I am not concerned about getting off the bottom, despite the constant mentions. It is not a priority for me at the moment,” stated the visiting manager, Paul Heckingbottom.
I am pleased with our performance against a strong team. The most important aspect is always the number of points we earn. There are many factors that have contributed to us not earning more points this season, such as our start to the season and missed opportunities in crucial moments of games.
Source: theguardian.com
