Coleman is left fuming after draw

14 April 2012

Middlesbrough 1 Fulham 1

If it is true that the best referees are anonymous then Rob Styles, on present form, should not be in charge of the FA Cup Final next month.

Having refused Crystal Palace two clear-cut penalties on Saturday, the Hampshire-born official was embroiled in yet more controversy when he outrageously awarded Middlesbrough a last-minute spot-kick to deny Fulham the three points they richly deserved.

So furious was Fulham manager Chris Coleman that he had to be restrained by his players and coaching staff as he stormed on to the pitch at the final whistle.

His apoplectic reaction, though, was understandable as television replays confirmed that Edwin van der Sar's challenge on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink took place a yard outside the penalty area.

Styles, despite his proximity to the incident, oddly shifted responsibility by blowing his whistle and then looking in the direction of his assistant, who, following a farcical delay, raised his flag to signal a penalty even though he was on the opposite side of the pitch.

Laurel and Hardy could not have performed the scene better, though for Fulham this was no laughing matter. A victory on Teeside, which they were heading for courtesy of Brian McBride's second-half goal, would have ended lingering relegation fears.

Instead, Fulham are likely to need another two points from their remaining five games to be certain of securing their Premiership status.

When that moment arrives they can look forward to the prospect of watching Styles control the most important fixture in domestic football.

"It's going to be great fun, I think, to watch the FA Cup Final with this referee," said Van der Sar. "I don't know what's going on with him but I wish him the best of luck for the Cup Final and I hope he does a better job than the last two games.

"Players are allowed to have a poor game and probably the referee also, but it was quite important decisions that he got wrong.

"I am definitely sure that my left foot was outside the box, otherwise I would have tried to catch the ball. The referee didn't know [what decision to make] and the linesman was standing 40 yards away and normally when he [the referee] knows it's a penalty he runs towards the touchline.

"But he didn't know and I think when there's doubt you don't give a penalty. It's just a bad decision from the referee and I think he made more mistakes."

That much was true. Middlesbrough defender Gareth Southgate had already been cautioned when he recklessly clattered into Tomasz Radzinski. Had the rules been applied, Middlesbrough would have played the final half hour with 10 men.

Styles, though, perhaps mindful of his title as the Premiership's strictest referee - he has awarded seven red cards in 22 games this season - decided that Southgate deserved no more than a ticking off.

Fulham's frustration was augmented by the realisation that they had little to show for a polished performance.

Van der Sar was called into action on only one occasion before he retrieved Bolo Zenden's penalty from the back of the net in the 90th minute. Fulham, in contrast, opened up the home side at will and finally gained reward when McBride placed a 12-yard shot beyond Brad Jones with eight minutes remaining.

Styles's decision, however, dashed hopes of a rare Fulham away win and prompted Coleman to call for the introduction of instant video replays.

He said: "I do not know, maybe I have only been in the job two minutes and I have not got enough clout - but you are talking about Premiership football and you have got to have [video replays] now, surely.

"I have got a little monitor - it is not going to cost a lot of money. It clears everything up, it is as simple as that."

Boro manager Steve McClaren, whose side are still chasing European qualification, said: "What pleased me more than anything is the players never gave up. They kept going.

"We have salvaged a draw and, at the end of the season, that could be a very, very important point."

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Coleman is left fuming after draw

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