The Manchester City fans were drowning their sorrows in the Transfer Tavern last night after Wigan Athletic crushed their quadruple dream at the DW Stadium.
Man City’s ambition of winning all four available trophies this season was always more of a romantic idea for the supporters rather than a realistic expectation, but they would have firmly expected their dream to survive the challenge of a League One side in the FA Cup. However, City’s FA Cup nemesis knocked them out of the competition for the third time since 2013 following a highly controversial and dramatic evening of football.
The promotion chasing League One side were defensively phenomenal and thoroughly deserved their smash and grab victory against the Premier League leaders, but there is no doubt they were given a helping hand by the decision of Anthony Taylor to dismiss Fabian Delph on the stroke of half-time.
Taylor’s decision was one of those fundamentally subjective calls which will continue to firmly divide opinion until there is a notable change in the rules to outline exactly what is permitted when making a slide-tackle.
However, one of the main grievances amongst the supporters concerned the fact that Taylor initially took the yellow card out of his pocket and looked set to issue a caution to Delph, but then changed his mind following manic protests from the Wigan players.
Naturally, after watching an abundance of high and dangerous challenges on their players go unpunished this season, the supporters were absolutely incensed with Taylor’s decision, and they took to Twitter to express their frustration last night.
Here’s what the City fans have had to say about Anthony Taylor’s decision to dismiss Delph yesterday evening…
https://twitter.com/silvamagicians/status/965689478852632577
https://twitter.com/Zetanist/status/965689185310072834
It wasn’t a red but I can agree and say it was a yellow as it should have been. Disgraceful referee
— SeanMartinus (@Sean_Martinus) February 19, 2018
Never a red card
— clubfreebet (@clubfreebet_com) February 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/AB_MCFC/status/965689552013840384
Was not a red card at all COYB @ManCity
— Kacey Taylor (@kltaylor06) February 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/NickPatches/status/965707719792648192
The ref made a crucial mistake. Bowed down to the players demand of a red. Even with 10 men we could have won it. Gundogan went missing this time. Walker must have thought Grigg was offside when he let the ball go.
— Zacx (@Anzack2) February 19, 2018
Never ever a red Sav! https://t.co/oB6rkQNbvB
— Paul Dickov (@OfficialPDickov) February 19, 2018
