Reading Chronicle | | Downes slams Anfield effect as Royals slump

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 18th March, 2008 19:00

Downes slams Anfield effect as Royals slump

By Anthony Smith

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Liverpool 2 Reading 1

WALLY Downes is calling for Premier League referees to show more mental strength as Reading prepare for a crucial six-pointer at home to Birmingham City this Saturday (3pm ko).

The Royals’ defensive coach was incensed with Andre Marriner’s display at Anfield last weekend during their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, claiming he was “affected” by the Reds’ bench and the home crowd.

The Warwickshire official turned down a strong penalty claim at the death when Dave Kitson’s volley struck Steven Gerrard on the arm right in front of the Kop.

And Marriner also appeared to harshly punish Reading on numerous occasions, awarding 23 free-kicks against them to Liverpool’s seven, on top of five yellow cards to none.

Downes’ comments, which could land him in hot water with the FA, came in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s blast against referees following Manchester United’s shock FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth.

Downes fumed: “I never have a go at referees but they’ve got to be stronger. Fergie had a rant last week about protecting players but look at the stats. There weren’t that many fouls made by Portsmouth players.

“At Liverpool, Rafa (Benitez) was jumping up and down but there weren’t many fouls either. The top clubs are used to getting their own way.

“When you go to places like Anfield and battle against that you need strong referees who aren’t weak or pressurised by opposition managers.”

But it was the penalty claim against Gerrard which angered Reading the most.

“These referees all watch Match of the Day when they highlight these handballs that don’t get given,” added Downes.

“We were too far away to see it but I think they’re weak. They get affected and the one we had was affected by Fergie’s rant.

“Martin Skrtel was all over Kevin Doyle and Shane Long all game. You want your defenders to be aggressive – we tell ours to be – but referees have to be strong enough to make decisions at both ends.”

And he stressed: “It doesn’t help when Rafa is jumping up and disputing every challenge and every foul. That’s when the referee has to be strong.

“If benches are going to do that, fine, but referees have to make sure they are not affected by that. We don’t do it.”

Reading, who defeated Liverpool 3-1 at home in December, took a shock fifth lead thanks to a 25-yard screamer from Czech star Marek Matejovsky, his first goal for the club.

Javier Mascherano lashed home a 20-yard equaliser on 19 minutes and red-hot striker Fernando Torres headed the winner three minutes into the second-half.

However, in the last minute, Kitson’s goal-bound volley clearly struck Gerrard’s arm six yards out and Downes complained: “That’s when you have to be a strong referee. They’re (Liverpool) used to winning and they’re used to getting their own way.

“We feel hard done by. We hoped not to give two goals away and we could have defended better.

“But you don’t get enough momentum going the other way when you are trying to get the ball into the opposition’s half, maintain some possession and move up as a side. I don’t think we were treated fairly.”

Royals boss and boyhood Liverpool fan Steve Coppell was more philosophical about his side’s defeat.

“We felt we had a very strong shout for a penalty but it wasn’t given and you have to get on with it,” he said.

“But you do feel when you come to a big club it’s hard to get an even sway of the decisions.”

Meanwhile, Coppell is unlikely to discipline striker Shane Long for throwing his shirt when he was hauled off at Anfield in the second half.

Long has apologised for his actions and Coppell stressed: “Shane was frustrated with the officials’ decisions. He was up against a big, uncompromising centre-half but every time there was contact it was a Liverpool free-kick.

“But I don’t want to see shirt-throwing and it won’t happen again.”

Meanwhile, Lens signing Jimmy Kebe is pushing for a start against Birmingham this weekend, while long-term injury victim Glen Little is back in full training and eyeing an April return.

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