MX23RW : Sunday, April 28 15:25:57| >> :120:11864:11864:
[monks data]
Attendance: 22,393
Cardiff City logo
Championship | Gameweek 36
Feb 29, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Brentford logo

2-2

Hoilett (34'), Ralls (45')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Racic (5'), Mbeumo (21')

Thomas Frank insists Will Vaulks should have been sent off

Thomas Frank insists Will Vaulks should have been sent off
© Reuters
The Bees were 2-0 up.

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank criticised the match officials after they failed to take action against Will Vaulks in his side's 2-2 draw at Cardiff.

The Bluebirds midfielder escaped punishment from referee Simon Hooper after appearing to knee Christian Norgaard in the head while Brentford were 2-0 up.

Luka Racic calmly scored his first senior goal after five minutes to put the Bees ahead before Bryan Mbeumo's free-kick doubled the lead.

Then came the flashpoint as Vaulks looked to have used his knee to push Norgaard's head into the turf after the Brentford midfielder won the ball with a slide tackle.

Vaulks escaped punishment and went on to have a hand in goals from Junior Hoilett and Joe Ralls as Neil Harris' side completed a first-half comeback.

"He put his knee down – he forced it down in the grass. I think there is still a hole down there," said Frank.

"I like Neil Harris very much – we have a very good relationship and I am looking forward to having a cold beer with him. He said 'yes it's a red card'.

"Vaulks after the game – I said 'you are a very good player and I know you are not a player like that' because he is not a dirty player.

"But this one was a red card. The fourth official, linesman, too soft – they saw it 100 per cent.

"I am pleased with the attitude of my players. Coming to Cardiff – they have lost twice at home – we know it is a very difficult ground to go to.

"We totally dominate the game from the first second and on 25 minutes we are up 2-0. They don't have a chance, then they score a very good goal. Then it gets back and forth.

"Overall I am satisfied with our performance. Of course I would have loved to win but we couldn't today."

Cardiff thought they should have had a penalty after Ethan Pinnock tripped Hoilett in the box, and Harris was also unhappy with the referee.

"I try and keep a calm head but the decisions tipped me over the edge," said Harris.

"It makes you not want to work with referees and help them develop.

"It's a clear-cut penalty and they have to get those decisions right. That's the difference between us winning the game.

"We gave a soft goal away for the first goal and it was a great free-kick for the second.

"I thought we were a little bit standoffish and passive for the first 20 minutes, which might have been caused by the first goal.

"We found our way back into the game by forcing our way higher up the pitch, forced some turnovers and scored a really good goal with some great build up play that finished with a great cross and header from Junior Hoilett at the back post.

"Then we started to really play, we caused them problems. I'm delighted with Joe Ralls to come back after such a long time out and get the goal."

ID:391371: cacheID:391371:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4873:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leeds United's Mateusz Klich celebrates after scoring their first goal on February 26, 2020
Read Next:
Championship week 36 predictions including Hull vs. Leeds
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!