West Brom: Steve Hermon blasts back at QPR defender Steve Cook after Cedric Kipre incident
Steve Hermon has blasted back at Steve Cook following his comments on the Cedric Kipre incident in the West Brom game against QPR on Wednesday (6 March).
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the 32-year-old Rs defender said it was a “terrible decision” from the referee and that the handball from Kipre couldn’t be missed in the 2-2 draw at Loftus Road.
Responding to those claims on Twitter on Thursday (7 March), BBC Radio WM journalist Hermon admitted that the 27-year-old’s handball could only not be missed once you had seen the replay, adding that nobody saw what happened in real-time and that none of the hosts’ players appealed.
“‘It can’t be missed’… once you’ve seen a replay,” said Hermon. “Nobody saw the handball in real-time. I didn’t see any QPR players appealing for it and I can understand why the officials didn’t spot it.”
Cedric Kipre got away with one for West Brom
It was a very strange incident as it initially looked to all the world like Alex Palmer had tipped the ball over the bar to deny Cook’s incredible effort.
But after seeing the replays, it was clear to see that Kipre actually handled the ball to prevent it from going in and a penalty should have been awarded.
It would have taken an unbelievable spot for the officials to pick it up, though, given how quickly the incident happened and how the Frenchman disguised his hand next to his head.
It’s understandable why a penalty wasn’t given on that basis, but QPR are within their rights to feel aggrieved as they were unfortunate to not get a penalty.
It was a game packed with action on a tricky night for Albion, but Carlos Corberan will have been pleased to come away with another point on the board in their promotion push.
In other West Brom news, Corberan has raved about what a Baggies chief has done behind the scenes.
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