Forest target Pratley says Swansea were robbed
NOTTINGHAM Forest transfer target Darren Pratley today insisted Swansea City had been robbed of three points by a 'shocking' performance by referee Colin Webster.
The midfielder (pictured), who was the subject of more than one seven-figure bid from the Reds in January, insisted he should have had a penalty when he was brought down by Chris Cohen in the second half.
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Darren Pratley
And he felt there should have been an offside decision awarded against Forest in the run-up to the winning goal from Luke Chambers in injury time.
"The referee was shocking. I said to him that I was five yards out from goal, why would I not shoot?" said Pratley. "He said he didn't see it. The linesman was over that side and he hasn't given it either.
"I think it has lost us three points. While you never want to see a player sent off, Forest should have been down to ten men and a goal behind from the penalty.
"With 15 minutes to go, against ten men, you would have expected us to win. I just hope it doesn't cost us anything more by the end of the season.
"I would have fancied myself from five-yards, I would have asked to have been taken off had I not scored from there. It was a penalty though and the referee has cost us three points.
"Luke Chambers came up to me after the game and said to me 'how was that not a penalty?'. So I had presumed it was him who brought me down," said Pratley.
"But I am good mates with Chris Cohen, so I will have to have a word with him if it was him.
"There was an offside as well, in the build up to Forest winning the corner that they scored from."
Pratley was jeered by the Forest fans following the incident, but he brushed off suggestions it might have been something to do with his failure to sign for the club in January.
And he said they would merely focus on closing the seven-point gap between them and the Reds.
"West Brom lost against QPR and we still have to play them at home – and we fancy ourselves against anyone at home. So second place might have been there for us," he said.
"But there are still a lot of points to play for but, had we beaten Forest it would have been a massive boost for us.
"We have to get over it, but it is a disappointment. I was getting a bit of stick from the fans. But I think even the Forest fans knew it was a blatant penalty."
22 Comments
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by Anthony, Watford
Thursday, March 11 2010, 12:43PM
“Bretby Red, It was not a cast iron penalty, read the blogs below. And I don't think Pratley is worth 2.5 million pounds either-no way!.”
by Bretby Red, Bretby
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 10:36AM
“Come on guys, it was an absolute certain pen. If that had been the other way I for one would have been screaming at the injustice of it all. As for the views on Pratley, he was terrific on Saturday and would be a fantastic aquisition for us. I can now understand why Swansea would reject £1.75 Million. I think £2.5M is a far more realistic figure. Great win all the same”
by mandy, southwell
Monday, March 08 2010, 6:58PM
“If Pratley hadnt spent all game (along with a few of his team mates) rolling around on the floor then the ref might have given the "pen" .Get over it we've had several pens not awarded to us in the last few games ,it happens .Swansea came for a draw , for a team that have so much possession they are very low scorers and it backfired.”
by moz, newark
Monday, March 08 2010, 5:52PM
“i was sat in the trent end lower 3 rows from the front at the side of the goal that pratley triped over his own feet i say it was a blatent dive and he is a cheat full stop”
by Garry, Rugby
Monday, March 08 2010, 5:44PM
“Talk about sour grapes, we all have so called decisions that do not go in our favour. Your players were going down very easily and trying to get free kicks and penatlies that were none existant. Looking at your other games you go for a 1-0, like at Peterborough who you onle beat because of a pen and against 10 men. Grow up yopu did nit have a decent shot on goal all the game, and should have been at leats 2-0 down at half time. as someone sitting behind me said Prat by name Prat by nature.”