The real shame about this game was the watching public had a potentially great encounter taken away from them by one of the worst refereeing performances seen at the Swansea.Com Stadium for many years.
The Bobby Madley show arrived in Swansea this afternoon and once again the man who was sacked for gross misconduct by the Premier League when he mocked a disabled person in a video came to the fore.
The pompous Yorkshireman is never far from criticism from his peers and has a plethora of dissenters within his ‘trade’ He gave up on being an official before coming back and being allowed to referee again despite his discriminating past. Today he started his one man show by sending off Charlie Patino for two questionable yellow cards. Had there been some degree of fault on the side of the Arsenal loanee we most certainly would have fallen down in the officials favour. However, this was just the start.
The first half was a stop, start affair with Sunderland the better side attacking down both flanks and it was only the performance of Carl Rushworth in the Swans goal which stopped the visitors scoring. Reacting on three occasions to goal bound efforts, one deflected on to the post ensured the half ended scoreless. However, without further intervention from Madley that is. Noting Liam Cullen and Harry Darling both being hauled down in the penalty area a spot kick was awarded.
Jamal Lowe stepped up to take his third penalty of the season electing to strike the ball to the keepers right (again) which Patterson saved easily. That ensured a half time 0-0 in what was a frustrating watch overall, not least for the Swans endeavours or the referee’s determination to take centre stage.
The second half started much the same as the second with the Swans being hauled back after a legitimate challenge by sub Jay Fulton was deemed a foul. He received a yellow for that challenge. That was the final straw for head coach Michael Duff on the sidelines who remonstrated with the fourth official only to be given a yellow card for his efforts by Madley. The Swans were happy to hit the Black Cats on the break as they gave up possession which earned Jamal Lowe an opportunity but his shot was too weak. That said the way the Swans were set up including the introduction of Ollie Cooper for Jerry Yates there seemed to be some feeling the home side could nick a goal. To do that the Swans defensive line had to be quicker when closing down from attacking Sunderland moves, and as the second half wore on that was evidently not happening.
This left a number of Sunderland opportunities to be had from distance.
Sunderland corners followed and the Swans defended rigorously against the onslaught with the away side on over seventy percent possession on seventy minutes. Another yellow followed when bizarrely Harry Darling earned his third card of the season and Sunderland pressed on looking for the points. The Swans by now were totally ineffective going forwards, albeit only one man down the Swans seemed psychologically beaten regards any positivity they had to win the game. Next was a blocked shot by Ben Cabango, throwing himself in front of Dack. The ball was definitely heading in. Harry Darling ( below ) continually met crosses with his head as did young Bashir Humphreys as the bravery continued and more yellows were produced by Madley.
Eight minutes additional time was added by the fourth official as opportunities presented themselves to the visitors. A wonderful reaction save by Rushworth again kept the score at 0-0. More corners, more set plays and more heroics ensued. The Swans work rate was phenomenal as the near 17,000 crowd in the main pleaded for the final whistle. Sunderland pushed forwards again with a minute remaining of additional time. Jack Clarke tried to force his way in to the penalty area but didn’t have the strength to finish off his work. The final whistle was greeted with loud cheers but we have to be honest and say this game was ruined by referee Robert Madley who single-handedly tore the heart out of the fixture by becoming centre stage.
Never a more ridiculous man has been offered a whistle and authority in the football league. And surely now his employers at the EFL will put him out of his misery, and indeed the thousands who have to put up with and watch his nonsense week in week out.
Swansea City - Rushworth; 9 Ashby, 7 Darling, 8 Humphreys, 7 Tymon; 7 Grimes, 6 Patino; 5 Cullen 5 (Fulton 46), 6 Paterson 6 (Cabango 78) 6 Lowe; 6 Yates 5
Subs: Fisher, Pedersen, Tjoe-A-On, Naughton, Wales, Cooper, Congreve.
Sunderland - Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Ballard (Cirkin 76), Huggins (Dack 56); Ekwah; Roberts, Neil (Ba 79), Bellingham (Pritchard 56), Clarke; Rusyn (Semedo 56).
Subs: Young, Burstow, Aouchiche, Seelt.
Referee : Robert Madley 1/10 : Thanks for popping in and ruining a game of football.
Att : 16,978