Gary Megson and Sir Bobby fall out

By Matthew Jones
October 6 2002

After Alan Shearer's two goal brace against West Brom, helping the Toon to 6th in the league, Sir Bobby Robson has no sympathy at all for Gary Megson, the manager of his opponents WBA. A freekick - conceded from a backpass - fired home inside the box - put Newcastle level after conceding early.

Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson had little sympathy with Gary Megson after his West Brom counterpart complained of bias against his team.

The Magpies recovered from conceding a 27th-minute goal from Igor Balis to win 2-1, courtesy of a brace from terrace hero Alan Shearer. The first goal, coming from a controversial freekick.

The former England striker's first-half equaliser came in controversial circumstances and proved to be the main bone of contention for the visitors.

Baggies goalkeeper Joe Murphy picked up an alleged backpass from Balis and Shearer crashed in the indirect free-kick from close range. He fired the free-kick home, straight under the wall and into the bottom corner. At such close range, its harder to miss than it is to score!

Robson thought that referee Chris Foy had little choice but to give the foul while Megson raged that Balis' touch was unintentional and that the decision was typical of those suffered by away teams playing at the homes of the Premiership's big guns.

"It would have been extremely difficult for the referee not to give that decision over the backpass," said Robson.

"Balis was in trouble and the goalkeeper had the chance of booting it out first time anyway if he'd thought about it. How many referees would not have given that?"

Megson said there was no way Balis would have put his keeper in danger on purpose.

"If Igor was trying to pass the ball back with his foot inside the six-yard box, he would be in big trouble at our football club," stated Megson. "We don't do that. But it hit him on the foot and the keeper has just instinctively picked it up. I'd feel better if other decisions had gone our way but I spoke to another manager at a club similar to ours who told me the one thing we had to get used to was not getting decisions against bigger teams. I've seen nothing to dispel that theory. We've lost our last two league games both in controversial circumstances but nowhere near as controversial as today. We're aggrieved."

Robson was delighted with the result and believes Newcastle will now push on in the league.
"We played to the last minute again and I was pleased with the effort from my players," he added.

"We were not spectacular but gave a workmanlike performance. It's a big victory for us. We have gone up the league and are in striking position to be in a European place again next season."