'He was so naive': Wimbledon boss Glyn Hodges says referee let Sunderland 'run the game' in 3-0 triumph

AFC Wimbledon boss Glyn Hodges has questioned the ‘naive’ refereeing that he felt allowed Sunderland to ‘run the game’ during their triumph at Plough Lane.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Both benches had complaints with referee Antony Coggins during the game who, while presented with no major decisions to make, made some questionable calls at key moments in the game.

And Hodges believed that the officiating didn’t help his side in their quest to get back into the game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’m a bit disappointed with the refereeing today,” admitted the Wimbledon boss.

AFC Wimbledon manager Glyn HodgesAFC Wimbledon manager Glyn Hodges
AFC Wimbledon manager Glyn Hodges

“I don’t normally have a go at the referees, but he was so naïve.

"They (Sunderland) have run the game, they went down with head injuries and he blows the whistle, he doesn’t get them off the pitch, the keeper trying to get the ball from behind the goal and there is one by his feet.

"It was just so frustrating and that didn’t help us get any momentum.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Hodges didn’t solely point the finger at the referee, and admitted his side were far from good enough in the 3-0 reverse.

"We haven’t played as well today as we didn’t ask enough questions,” he said.

“The attitude of the boys was fantastic, they ran around and gave everything, as they always do, but when we were 1-0 down and trying to get the equaliser, maybe to even get the win, we got done on the sucker-punch.

"I was disappointed that it ended 3-0 as it was never a 3-0 result.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We didn’t create as much. We pride ourselves on getting crosses into the box, but for no reason we turned down chances to cross so many times and that’s a fundamental way that we play.

"The boys are aware of that and we have to continue believing in what we do. It has worked before.

"We have just gone through the goals in there, and they are things we have highlighted and worked on.

"It’s just a lack of concentration, or going to sleep and not dealing with things. That’s the disappointing thing, they didn’t carve us open and score with a overhead kick or a shot into the top corner, anything that you can applaud and say ‘great goal’.”

A message from the Football Clubs Editor:

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of SAFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor