Monk Feeling ‘Cheated’ By Penalty Decision

It was clear that Monk was incensed by the decision to award the home side a penalty just before half time – a crucial moment that gave Stoke the momentum going into the second half that they did not deserve given the pattern of play in the first half.

It is easy to see why he was so angry with the decision given by Michael Oliver who seemed hell bent on equalling out the decision to award a penalty to the Swans earlier in the half although the difference being one was a clear penalty and one was blatant cheating on behalf of Victor Moses.

Monk may well have talked himself into trouble though with his after match comments about refereeing decisions not just in this game but in other games.

Monk told Sky Sports “How we came away with no points is disappointing. I think it is a case of us having great chances early on – we have to score in those moments and be clinical.

“We have to make sure that the very good chances we get should be goals. Ours was a penalty. I watched it back, Shawcross had his hands all over Bony, twists him around and throws him to the ground, for me it is a penalty.

“The penalty against is a disgraceful decision, not in a million years a penalty. The problem I have is this season a match changing decision is going against us constantly and nothing is being done about it. I have spoken to the referees about it and to the association and I don’t hear anything coming back to me at all.

“I looked straight at their bench and even they couldn’t believe that he had given that penalty. It is a disgrace and never a penalty in a million years. The player should be punished for a dive – he has cheated the ref and then the ref has cheated us in terms of giving the decision that never was.

“It is a poor poor decision at a vital time for us. We should have been coming in 1-0 up and we get that decision against us and it is becoming a big concern for me.

“I would like consistency to be there and I am trying to speak to people about it but I am getting no feedback from Mike Riley which is astonishing to me and I will now just have to wait and see what happens next week”

Very strong words indeed from a manager clearly incensed by a poor refereeing decision.

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