Hoddle Unhappy With Ref

By Stuart Smith
November 26 2005

Speaking after todays 0-0 draw with Southampton, Wolves Boss Glenn Hoddle tried hard to mask his frustration with referee Paul Taylor's at best questionable and at worst farcical performance today.

Wolves were denied two legitimate penalty claims in an afternoon where nothing seemed to go Wanderers way, and saw them slip to ninth in the Coca Cola Championship.

"If Leons shot that hit the bar had gone in, we would have won 1-0.THere was only going to be one goal in it....We had two penalty claims that were penalties."

Whilst stopping short of outright critiscism Hoddle made it clear that he was less than happy with Taylor's performance.

"The referee made it even more of a frustrating day. Both benches had a smile at each other. I will put it in a report, but thats all I am going to say."

Responding to the crowds unhappiness at the withdrawal of Colin Cameron he added.

"I took Colin off because he was playing well, but it was his third game in eight days, and at 33 fatigue levels can catch up with you."

"I've worked with him long enough now to know when he should come off.He wasnt playing badly , we just needed fresh legs."

Stefan Postma and Anti Niemi both played their part in the stalemate, as Hoddle pointed out.

"Both 'keepers made key saves today. The positive we can take from this is that we've kept a fourth clean sheet in a row."

He also gave the fans some much welcome news saying that Kenny Miller could return to full trainig next week, and that Carl Cort and Paul Ince might be back in contention over the Christmas period.

If Wolves underperforming, and threadbare squad can manage to maintain this months 2 point avergage until then, there is still a chance that back to full strength, they can mount a serious threat to Sheffield United's second place position.

Sixteen points may seem impossible to claw back, but bigger leads have been surrendered in THe Championship before.