Rowett: Wilmot Red Card Was Unfair
Derby County manager Paul Rowett has expressed his frustration with the red card shown to midfielder Tom Wilmot in their 2-1 defeat to Bristol City on Saturday.
Rowett argued that the tackle, which saw Wilmot sent off for a challenge on City's Joe Williams, was not worthy of a red card. He stated that the tackle was "a late tackle, but it was nowhere near as bad as some of the tackles I've seen not given a red card."
"I thought it was a ridiculous decision," Rowett told reporters after the match. "It was a late tackle, but Tom wasn't out of control. He tried to get the ball and I don't think he went over the top."
The incident occurred in the 64th minute, with Derby leading 1-0 at the time. The red card effectively turned the tide of the game, as Bristol City scored two goals in the remaining minutes to secure victory.
"We're disappointed with the red card, but we're more disappointed with the way we defended the last two goals," Rowett continued. "We were in a great position, but we let ourselves down."
The red card was a controversial one, with many fans and pundits agreeing with Rowett's assessment that it was harsh. There were calls for VAR (Video Assistant Referee) to be implemented in the Championship, arguing that it could have prevented such a decision.
Wilmot's absence will be a blow to Derby's hopes of promotion. The midfielder has been a key player for the Rams this season, and his absence will be felt in the coming weeks.
The red card has sparked a debate about the standard of refereeing in the Championship. Many believe that the officials are too quick to show red cards, and that this is impacting the quality of the football.
Only time will tell if the FA will review the decision and take any action against the referee. However, Rowett's strong reaction to the red card highlights the growing frustration among managers with the inconsistent standard of refereeing in the English leagues.
