Blackpool boss Ian Evatt is demanding change after seeing his appeal against James Husband’s red card against Port Vale rejected.
He’s not the only one unhappy, as a number of Blackpool supporters have voiced concerns on Reddit that Edward Duckworth, the official in question, is Preston-born, insinuating some sort of agenda against the Tangerines.
The Seasiders’ captain was sent off during the 5-1 loss at Vale Park, a decision that proved pivotal, with all five of Port Vale’s goals coming after his dismissal. Evatt had been confident the straight red card would be overturned on appeal, but the review panel upheld the original verdict, ruling Husband out of the recent defeat to Bradford City, as well as upcoming fixtures against Ipswich Town in the FA Cup and Barnsley in League One.
Evatt admitted he remains bemused by both the original decision and the failed appeal, with the club still awaiting a full explanation for the panel’s ruling.
“I like to think that calmly and without emotion, I can review incidents and give a level-headed opinion of what I believe is right,” he said. “You could ask every member of staff in the 92 clubs in this country, and I don’t think one would honestly say it’s a red card. We’re getting it wrong.
“The club hasn’t been given the reasons. Considering the one here against Rotherham was, which ticked a lot more boxes, I find it inexcusable.”
Evatt isn’t just annoyed at the red card, which does look to be a red card from the replays. He’s also upset at some Port Vale goals and the general performance of the official.
“It wasn’t just the red card decision, it was the second goal and the third goal, it was decision after decision, and that’s why everyone’s frustrated.
“The manner of the quick turnaround means there’s now even more views from different cameras. There was another angle provided by the Port Vale media team that clearly showed the tackle was nowhere near a red card, never mind a foul. We can’t provide that now because our window of opportunity has gone.”
“We have to do something about the regulations and the rules. For me, the panel should remain the same for fairness. They have to be the same every red card decision that clubs in League One appeal, otherwise you get inconsistencies.
“Myself and the supporters feel a sense of injustice. We have to reset, and we’ve got a two-week window before we play again in the league. We’ve had a good month, even though it’s finished on a sour note, we mustn’t forget the work we’ve done and bring some fresh impetus into the squad to help us move forward.”
The frustration is understandable but not entriely justified. Up until a few weeks ago, we saw the blunt end of some bad decision,s and while Husband’s red card unquestionably altered the course of the game, he’s lunged and is out of control.
There may be an argument against the other decisions. The disallowed Blackpool goal appeared marginal; there was a missed push in the back in the build-up to Vale’s second, and the visiting supporters felt repeated fouls that went unpunished, all of which combined to create a sense of inconsistency. The match rarely found rhythm, with frequent stoppages for minor incidents and a referee who appeared far too prominent throughout.
That does not absolve Blackpool of responsibility for what followed. Performance levels dipped sharply, and the tactical gamble to chase the game without a recognised striker left the side blunt and exposed. Fatigue was evident early, with several players visibly flagging before half-time, highlighting the lack of depth within the squad despite the big budget. Midfield duels, particularly aerial ones, were repeatedly lost, underlining the need for greater physical presence in that area.
As for the accusations of bias, that does feel like a knee-jerk fan reaction, rather than anything based in reality. Duckworth sent off a Blackpool player last season, and the decision was overturned, which has given the supporters a sense of injustice. The Imps have had Duckworth in the past, for the opening day fixture against Burton last season (now the image makes sense, right?), and he seemed to be okay for us that day, but that doesn’t mean he has an anti-Blackpool agenda.
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