Kettle Blows Out Of Control

Last updated : 28 September 2015 By @pnemad

Simon Grayson and Trevor Kettle have previous as Grayson was given a touchline ban due to comments made about Kettle the last time he refereed a Grayson side.

The game started off well. Preston went with a back four. Huntington was out injured so Wright and Clarke played int he centre. Woods and Cunningham as full backs played behind new boy Reach and Johnson out wide with Gallagher still injured.

Preston were lively and Wolves looked nervy which was unlike the last time the two sides met in League One a couple of seasons ago. North End seized the initiative and the outfield player of the season so far, Daniel Johnson, curled in another effort from the edge of the box.

Johnson is Preston's leading goalscorer and without him and Pickford preston would be firmly rooted to the bottom of the table. The problem may come in the future when surely he will come to the attention of a Premier League outfit.

The game then changed around the half hour mark. The ball was in the air when Garner turned and tried to win the same with a high boot. Replays show he had his eye on the ball despite his foot being high.

Unfortunately, the Wolves defender went for the 50/50 ball at the same time and Graner caught the player high up. Without hesitation the referee pulled out his red card. He didn't even consult his assistant who was closer to the action.

Both players wree injured but got up and Graner was shown the red card. There was no intent and he genuinely went for the ball. On another day that woul dhave been a yellow but Pretson wree left to play an hour with ten men.

The home side did well but then Wolves changed thigns int he second half piling players forward. Preston held out. The referee became inconcistent in his decisions.

There were a number of tackles from the visitors which went unpunished. Macdonald threw the ball away just before half time but wasn't shown a yellow card. Pickford was then booked for wasting time. It was a case of double standards by the referee.

Bailey Wright was then punished towards the end of the game for two inocuous fouls. He was shown two yellow cards and Preston played the last ten minutes with nine men.

Macdonald was booked fo a foul int he second half yet remained on the pitch because the referee failed to book him for throwing the ball away earlier int he game. Kettle was applying one rule for one and another for seemingly ever preston layer.

Unjustly it was Macdonald who equalised with a superb 25 yard curling effort. The goal did not fit the erformance for the visitors as they were poor throughout failing to break down ten and then nine men until the very end.

I suspect that Preston may have got the better if the teams had been even numerically or if Kettle had been consistent in his approach to applying the rules. Nevertheless, Preston still remain third bottom.