Neil Warnock lets rip at referee after controversy marrs Swansea win over Middlesbrough

Neil Warnock lets rip at referee Gavin Ward after controversy marrs Swansea City’s win over Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon.

Steve Cooper’s side climbed to third in the Championship table thanks to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Boro which left Neil Warnock fuming.

Andre Ayew scored a stoppage-time penalty for the second time in as many games to secure the win after he earlier put Swansea ahead, though Middlesbrough deservedly got one back in the 91st minute through Sam Morsy.

Ayew scored from the spot in the 97th minute after referee Gavin Ward had initially given a corner. He went and celebrated by running towards his coaches in the dugout, only for Warnock to watch on in outrage.

Possibly on the advice of his assistant, ward gave a penalty deeming that George Saville had fouled Jake Bidwell.

Warnock was berating the officials for much of the first half, with some of his defenders taking some of the flak, though one controversial moment saw referee Ward blow his whistle for what has been judged to be a foul by Bolasie on Jay Fulton just as Bola unleashed a powerful drive which flew beyond Woodman and into the net.

Marc Bola thunderous shot against Swansea found the back of the net but Boro were furious when the referee disallowed it ❌

📺 the final minutes of Swansea vs Middlesbrough on Sky Sports Football pic.twitter.com/j1XfvPq0ad

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 6, 2021

Warnock urged his players to push on in search of victory, but it was Swansea who claimed onto all three points and yet another important win.

The late drama left Warnock annoyed at the officials with Swansea now to within a point of the automatic promotion places with two games in hand.

Middlesbrough stay ninth having lost despite controlling much of the game.

Neil Warnock is fuming at full-time after Middlesbrough lost to a 97th minute penalty 🤬 pic.twitter.com/IfEnzzlR8Z

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 6, 2021

Neil Warnock said after a penalty for Swansea in the 96th minute of the match against Boro: “I have to ask Steve for his father’s number, Keith. He must have contacts somewhere.”

Keith Cooper, the father of the Swansea manager, was a past referee in the EFL and the Premier League.

“I’m just disappointed,” he told Sky Sports after the match. “I thought the lads put in a really good shift, we played some good football and were best side on the pitch. I didn’t see them having many chances at all.

“We’ve been let down by poor officials, nothing else.

“Ten minutes gone, [Ryan] Manning took [Anfernee] Dijksteel out, not one of four officials saw it, and it’s ended up with him coming off injured. He has deliberately kicked out at him and taken him down.

“Bola is a certain goal or a penalty to us. It’s a dive if anything from their lad. He gets the ball, Bolasie, it should be a penalty or a goal.

“How can I come on here now and not get fined? I’ve got to be careful, haven’t I? It’s the worst afternoon for many weeks and we have had a few of these recently.

“You saw the penalty the other night at Stoke, never a penalty in a million years and they won the game! So really, by that reckoning, they should get promotion if they keep getting the right referees.”

“They are all heroes, they all want the celebrity status, don’t they?

“It’s wrong. My lads have been let down by a team of officials who weren’t good enough today.

“[PGMOL chief] Alan Wiley has got a job on his hands, because they are not good enough, it’s not right. It shouldn’t be decided on an official.

“Last week, against Stoke, it wasn’t good enough. I don’t know where they get it from.

“95 percent of the time they get it right, but because they’ve never played the game and don’t understand getting kicked, or being conned, they don’t know the big decisions. That’s what lets them down, all of them.”

Neil Warnock is absolutely fuming!!!
Comedy gold!!! 😂😂🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/Zyi2QOdUfo

— Swansea Beat ⚽️ (@swanseabeat) March 6, 2021

Fans reacted as Neil Warnock lets rip at referee after controversy marrs Swansea City’s win over Middlesbrough…

@ColinLocke73: That comment is absolutely disgraceful

@simonwaite1: @FA everything Neil Warnock has said about referees across the country not just in the championship but also premiership is 100% true but I bet he gets fined

@Ceejay953: He’ll be getting a call soon enough and it won’t be from Steve Cooper. Cheer up Neil

@bethan_maunder: This is a shocking comment…enjoy the fine!!!

@lewisyates20: Agree with everything from Neil Warnock, these officials are not good enough in @premierleague and @EFL! They want respect but make decisions as we’ve seen today, @Boro completely robbed !Come out and give an interview explain how you can change a corner to a penalty! #Robbed

@theonlyindieboy: Last two Swans games though 🤔 … Shame he will get a fine for his mistake whereas the refs will get even more protection for making theirs. The game is gone on days like this

@459dwls: Terrible comment. He will be in trouble for that, I think!

@DannyGriffiths1: Great interview from Neil Warnock. He never holds back & you can’t blame him, after the officials robbed Middlesbrough them a point at least today.

@JosephW36068541: If Neil Warnock gets fined, I’ll pay for some of it. Joke. Fucking disgrace from @EFL

@jimmylees: You’ve got to feel happy and proud to have Neil Warnock fighting your corner. We haven’t had a manager like that for a long time.

@michaelalves07: Fine incoming for Neil Warnock

@RhiannonHolborn: Neil Warnock is rattled

@Smudgersmith15: Neil Warnock going nuts at the ref today at the end of the Swansea v Middlesbrough match. The ref was bricking it

@richardlewis71: Well said Neil Warnock your team were robbed today #Middlesbrough v #SwanseaCity

@laurenthfcc: i love Neil Warnock omg hahahaha

@MattSawyer9: Don’t often like Neil Warnock but it’s so true, refereeing is simply not good enough in the @SkyBetChamp #WatfordFC

@4TheLoveOfBoro: And of course Neil Warnock will probably get fined now he’s said all that. Despite all of it being true. It’s a joke. #boro #utb

@andrea_jepson: @efl when nursing isn’t called a profession and refereeing is!! Is it Neil warnock or @Boro that’s the problem? It’s frankly embarrassing to watch the refs these Days! 9 points lost at least because of very poor decisions.