Western Sydney Wanderers coach Carl Robinson has taken aim at a pair of questionable penalty calls that cost his side in a 1-1 draw against his former club Newcastle Jets.
Roy O’Donovan snatched a late equaliser for the Jets, converting a penalty conceded by Patrick Ziegler just a few moments after he was subbed on. This came after the Wanderers were denied a spot kick from a similar situation in the first half when James Troisi appeared to be tripped in the box.
Robinson argued that the Wanderers got the short end of the stick on both occasions, and that this has been the case for his side several times this season.
“It’s a little bit frustrating, to be honest,” he said.
“It’s not as if they earned the goal – it was a dubious penalty call.
“If you’re going to give that a penalty, then the one in the first half is a penalty. It seems to be too many times that we get on the wrong end of calls. I’ve been coaching in Australia for half a year and I don’t think I’ve had a penalty, which is amazing.”
Robinson, who coached Newcastle last season before breaking his contract to join the Wanderers, conceded the Jets were the dominant side in the second half and affirmed they are “a good team”.
However, he maintained that the Wanderers deserved all three points and pointed out a number of “grey areas” in the rule book which allowed the Jets to equalise.
“I was frustrated for our boys because they put a lot of work in,” Robinson said.
“Sometimes you’ve got to roll your sleeves up and fight and dig in, which they did in the second half… but then the ref goes and gives a call like that.
“If you read the guidelines, it has to be clear and obvious. What that does is allow everyone to just sit on the fence.
“The inconsistency really, really bothers me.”
The Wanderers led for most of the match courtesy of a first-half strike by ex-Jet Bernie Ibini, who followed Robinson in making a controversial off-season switch from Newcastle.
Ibini pounced in the 31st minute after Simon Cox’s long-range effort struck the post, marking his first goal in Wanderers colours.
Robinson praised Ibini, while hitting out at those who have criticised his unceremonious departure from Newcastle.
“People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” he said.
“I say that with a big smile on my face because people are wanting to do that and it’s unfortunate… People are too judgemental and too quick to point fingers and make opinions of others.
“Bernie is a great lad and a terrific player, he’s a good character and an honest boy. The performance he put in today was fitting, obviously it’s nice to get a goal against his old team.
“If you put in the work you get the reward, so I’m pleased for him to get his goal, it will get him up and running.”
The Wanderers will look to return to winning ways next Saturday when they face Macarthur, the only side to have defeated them so far this season.
Feature Image Credit: Peter Hugg
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