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Post by markscfc72 on Mar 3, 2008 9:55:05 GMT
by Martin Spinks
Stoke skipper Andy Griffin's appeal against a possible three-match ban has been handed a timely boost by his supposed victim.
QPR winger Hogan Ephraim is backing Griffin's appeal against the red card that outraged Stoke's players and staff in the 43rd minute of yesterday's 3-0 defeat at Loftus Road.
Griffin was given his marching orders for an alleged two-footed lunge on Ephraim, but City are convinced referee Andy D'Urso's decision should be overturned when they launch appeal proceedings today.
And Ephraim added his voice to Griffin's cause by stating: "I've seen him jump in, but he hasn't really connected with me and I haven't stayed down.
"We were both going for the ball and I'm not sure there was much intent. Hopefully they will appeal and be successful.
"They are going for promotion and you don't want to see their captain suspended for three games," added the 19-year-old winger.
Griffin himself declined to comment, while manager Tony Pulis said D'Urso had agreed to review the video evidence.
"It's a desperately disappointing decision," said Pulis.
"It was nowhere near a reckless challenge. He hasn't put the player in any danger whatsoever, and I think everyone agrees it's not a sending off.
"If Ephraim had the ball at his feet it would be touch and go, but Ephraim was nowhere near it. The ball was out and free. The player was not put in any danger by that challenge.
"Andy D'Urso didn't have the best view of it and has agreed to have a look at the video.
"You just hope he holds his hands up and turns the decision back."
Griffin's dismissal, when Stoke were already 2-0 down after a poor first-half display at Loftus Road, completed a miserable afternoon as they failed to re-claim top spot from new Coca-Cola Championship leaders Bristol City.
"We haven't played as well as we can," conceded Pulis, "and the only positive thing will be if the referee rescinds the sending off. I don't think I've ever won at this ground as a player, coach or manager."
But he remains confident his players will wipe away the memory of back-to-back defeats at Preston and QPR within the space of five days.
"I honestly think they will be all right, even though we've conspired to shoot ourselves in the foot in both games.
"We've taken two punches on the chin and we've got to bounce back. They've got a day off now to dust themselves down, then it's back to work.
"Goals change games. We've had one come off the bar and bounce on the line, then they go up the other end and score a minute later.
"From being one in front, we are chasing the game again and got punished."
Loan signing Chris Riggott was left out of the match day 16, with Pulis explaining: "Chris has got to have a good week's training first. Hopefully he will be available for Burnley on Saturday."
He said the club was hoping to complete the loan signing of goalkeeper Carlo Nash from Wigan this week, despite the recall of Russell Hoult from a week-long loan stint at Notts County.
RICARDO Fuller was the top-ranked Stoke City player at last night's Football League awards. He was placed 15th in the top 50 Football League players, with Ryan Shawcross 23rd and Liam Lawrence 29th. West Brom's Kevin Phillips was named Championship player of the year.
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Post by mumf14 on Mar 3, 2008 10:00:13 GMT
At this rate he'll reffing the south Cheshire league...
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Post by Kenilworth_Stokies on Mar 3, 2008 10:01:08 GMT
Good on Ephraim, a rare moment of sportsmanship in an increasingly selfish game. Well done that lad.
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Post by knowles on Mar 3, 2008 10:01:09 GMT
Well done Ephraim  "They are going for promotion and you don't want to see their captain suspended for three games," A very nice quote. Although he should never have been sent off, the game was already lost by then. That said, we don't want to be without him for 3 games!! |
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Post by JoeinOz on Mar 3, 2008 10:05:25 GMT
Credit to Ephraim for that.
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Post by PONTAFCE on Mar 3, 2008 10:06:06 GMT
Never on this earth was it a straight red a the most if there was a card to be given which there wasnt it would of been a yellow.
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Post by jpm64 on Mar 3, 2008 10:08:10 GMT
Knowles Whilst I agree it was an awful decision and should be overturned I think based on his performance prior to the sending off we wouldn't miss him if he was suspended  The irony of it all was that it was the first decent tackle he'd made all afternoon !!!!  |
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Post by PONTAFCE on Mar 3, 2008 10:09:50 GMT
He was gettin done through the game i admit so we really didnt miss him that much |
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Post by RAF on Mar 3, 2008 10:33:41 GMT
So if he is agreeing that he didn't have the best view why the fucking hell did he give a red card?
The blokes a fucking attention seeking wanker, he couldn't wait to get that red card out of his pocket.
Shit reffing at it's best.
H
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Post by bettyswallocks on Mar 3, 2008 10:33:54 GMT
I think that most agree that it should not of been a red but if you literally follow the rules word by word then it was a sending off. Any player who has both feet off the ground and jump in for the ball whilst making contact with another player is said to be red carded immediately and given a 3 match ban. the ref can have a look at it as will the FA and hopefully it will be recinded, hopefully
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Post by tazi on Mar 3, 2008 14:12:38 GMT
And Ephraim added his voice to Griffin's cause by stating: "I've seen him jump in, but he hasn't really connected with me and I haven't stayed down.
"We were both going for the ball and I'm not sure there was much intent. Hopefully they will appeal and be successful.
How the fuck he can even say that is beyond me!.
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Post by ted1965 on Mar 3, 2008 14:21:14 GMT
well done to Ephram, if that had been under Holloway it would have been seven rolls and a spin before Holloway demanded we had the rest of the team sent off for protesting against the terrible crime of winning the ball.
It's nice to see a young lad prepared to say nope wasn't injured and no way should it have been a sending off, now if only the referee had such sense.
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Post by Do it for bringbackthevic on Mar 3, 2008 14:21:34 GMT
I think that most agree that it should not of been a red but if you literally follow the rules word by word then it was a sending off. Any player who has both feet off the ground and jump in for the ball whilst making contact with another player is said to be red carded immediately and given a 3 match ban. the ref can have a look at it as will the FA and hopefully it will be recinded, hopefully I think you'll find Ephraim made conact with griffin not the other way around. Griffin was 1st on the ball and Ephraim came in late over the top. If anything Griffin was fouled as he had to push Ephraim legs out the way as he was trying to get up. |
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Post by bayernoatcake on Mar 3, 2008 14:21:58 GMT
And Ephraim added his voice to Griffin's cause by stating: "I've seen him jump in, but he hasn't really connected with me and I haven't stayed down. "We were both going for the ball and I'm not sure there was much intent. Hopefully they will appeal and be successful. How the fuck he can even say that is beyond me!. Why? Because he says there was intent or because he said nothing at the time? |
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Post by knowles on Mar 3, 2008 14:25:55 GMT
JPM- I agree with that, he was awful for the 42 minutes (or whatever it was) he was on the pitch
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Post by TheDee51 on Mar 3, 2008 14:49:28 GMT
Although he should never have been sent off, the game was already lost by then. What a load of bollox Knowles. The game was NOT lost AT ALL - Yes we were 2-0 down. Have we been 2-0 down in the past and come from behind and won the match. The ref made it very hard for us to come back with a fighting second half. But the game was not lost just because we we trailing 2-0 |
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Post by tazi on Mar 3, 2008 15:01:55 GMT
The thing is Bayern there is no "really" about it because he never made any kind of contact whatsoever, and the main point is that "THERE WAS NO INTENT WHATSOEVER" either.
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Post by Northy on Mar 3, 2008 15:19:21 GMT
why didn't ephraim tell the ref at the time of the incident, that would have been sporting  D'urso has said on SSn that he made a mistake |
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Post by bayernoatcake on Mar 3, 2008 15:21:56 GMT
The thing is Bayern there is no "really" about it because he never made any kind of contact whatsoever, and the main point is that "THERE WAS NO INTENT WHATSOEVER" either. I know-I was just clearing up what You meant! If it was the other reason I was going to say something! |
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Post by tazi on Mar 3, 2008 16:47:29 GMT
All got a bit confusing for my-self too.
Dont take much really ???
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Post by SneydGreenStokie on Mar 3, 2008 16:57:18 GMT
Good on Ephraim, a rare moment of sportsmanship in an increasingly selfish game. Well done that lad. Shame he didnt show the same sportsmanship after the tackle, instead of waving an imaginery card at the referee to encourage the twat of a ref to send book/red card griff. SGS |
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gerbil
Academy Starlet
Posts: 173
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Post by gerbil on Mar 3, 2008 19:02:13 GMT
a bit two faced to say the least . look at the video of the tackle and you will see him brandishing and imaginery card . plus there reaction got him sent off as much as anything . Interesting he now says it only deserves a booking . BUT HE PLAYS THE BALL THE QPR PLAYER GOES INTO HIM . Once a bunch of cheats always a bunch of cheats .
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