Roeder left fuming but Bennett is vindicated

From the Bolton Evening News, first published Monday 23rd Dec 2002.

GLENN Roeder used his after match press conference to criticise and insult the officials. Then later that night the officials were proved to be right.

The West Ham boss vented his fury at referee Steve Bennett and his assistant for failing to rule out Michael Ricketts' equaliser for offside but on Saturday night's Premiership show it was proved the men in black had got the decision spot on.

Roeder, in what appeared to be clutching at straws, blamed the ref and his assistants for costing his team maximum points. In reality, Wanderers deserved at least a share of the spoils.

Roeder said: "I am concerned that officials cannot do their job.

"What annoys me is they are so arrogant and so adamant they have got it right, and yet we come down the tunnel at the end of the game and see the television pictures and they are wrong.

"Then they just slide away into the night and are are not accountable whereas the rest of us are.

"I said last season that I am not one for technology, but I am rapidly changing my mind."

The technology used by Des Lynam and Co later that night showed clearly that striker Ricketts was onside when Jay Jay Okocha released a throughball and the goal - and assistant ref's decision - deserved the highest of praise.

Referee Bennett shrugged off Roeder's criticism and said the West Ham boss would change his opinion if he took a closer look at the video replay of the incident.

He said: "I have had a look at it, and there is absolutely no doubt that when the ball is played Michael Ricketts was onside.

"Glenn Roeder spoke to me after the game and was quite animated. But when he has another look at it I think he will agree it was onside. If it had happened at the other end of the field he would have wanted the goal to be awarded.

"The assistant in question is a UEFA official, and it was a top-drawer decision."

Roeder also blasted the ref for failing to give a penalty when Ricardo Gardner made contact in the box and the England midfielder Joe Cole went to ground.

He added: "I think referees need to get to know their players. We all know who the divers are, but Joe Cole is not one of them.

"You will not find a more honest player than Joe Cole and he is very upset."

The result leaves West Ham in the notorious bottom spot at Christmas from which no club has ever managed to avoid relegation in the Premiership's ten-year history.

He added defiantly: "That is a great motivation for my players to prove everyone wrong.

"I believe we will finish the season outside the bottom three."

He added: "We should have scored a winner at the end when Trevor Sinclair had a free header.

"Trevor knows he should have scored. We started well and got the goal and we had a few other good chances to make it two.

"We need to keep our heads up and the luck will start to turn our way.

"I am concerned we are not scoring enought goals and that we are bottom of the table and that officials cannot do their job.

"But the fans were great again and they have been absolutely fantastic all year. They are playing their part and we have to play ours by getting that win.

"I have to remain upbeat, which is not difficult for me, and hope that the players will respond in the right manner.

"I have no problem with our young players during this difficult time. They are showing no fear at all.

"Joe Cole is fantastic.

"I am confident our position will change. I think we can get that win, particularly at Upton Park and we will push on from there.

"I certainly don't think we will be in the bottom three when May comes around.

"We have a lot of confidence."

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