OPINION
Matt Murray gave his opinion on West Bromwich attacker Dwight Gayle’s sending off against Aston Villa on Saturday by sharing he agreed with the decision.
The 28-year-old Baggies forward was sent off after picking up two yellows cards in the 2-1 loss to Villa with his second booking coming after a late challenge on goalkeeper Jed Steer.
Murray revealed that he personally thought the referee made the right decision as if he was Steer not only would he have expected action to be taken, he believes it would be easily deemed a bookable foul anywhere else on the pitch.
“I feel personally if I was in goal where Jed Steer was and someone caught me that late,Steer had the ball comfortably and Gayle catches him and didn’t get the ball, I would expect them…,” said Murray on talkSPORT (14:37, Saturday May 11th).
“Y’know if that’s a challenge anyway else on the pitch, I know you think goalkeepers are too protected, but I think it was a second yellow.”
Murray’s verdict on the flashpoint during the Baggies’ 2-1 lost to Villa is spot-on as Gayle’s tackle was so late and if he had done that on an outfield player then it would be more of a shock for a yellow not to have been brandished.
However despite the former Wolves player making a great case for Gayle’s sending off, his verdict is still bound to frustrate some Baggies fans.
As normally a collision with a goalkeeper like that is treated with leniency as it’s clear that the attacker is just trying to force the ball across the line and isn’t really focusing on the shot-stopper’s position.
Gayle was merely trying to go the extra mile to get on the end of James Morrison’s cross and had no idea where Steer was positioned in that moment.
While the 28-year-old did catch him due to his momentum, and some will argue lack of control, normally the forward would have been given the benefit of the doubt in those situations.
Gayle is a very important player for the Baggies and the fact he is now set to be suspended and miss the rest of the play-offs, is a blow and one that several Baggies fans will feel is harsh.