Neil Warnock reacts to controversial Tom Fellows incident in West Brom playoff loss v Southampton
Neil Warnock has admitted that he didn’t think West Brom winger Tom Fellows deserved to concede a penalty in the Baggies’ play-off defeat to Southampton.
The Baggies’ Championship campaign was brought to an end with a 3-1 defeat to the Saints at St Mary’s on Friday (17 May) with goals from Will Smallbone and Adam Armstrong ensuring Credic Kipre’s late header was just a consolation.
While Carlos Corberan’s side were fortunate not to give away a penalty when Cedric Kipre brought down David Brooks, Warnock has accused Saints’ star Ryan Manning of diving to win the home side’s eventual spot-kick.
Speaking on Sky Sports Main Event on Friday (17 May, 22:12) Warnock said: “It wasn’t a penalty. The one that they scored wasn’t a penalty, but the first one was a penalty, but it is hard for the referee in that position.
“The second one wasn’t a penalty, he’s waiting for it with his foot. I’ve seen Manning dive more times when he was at Swansea, I used to shake his hand afterwards and say what a diver you are son.”
Neil Warnock accuses Ryan Manning of diving after Southampton win against West Brom
It was such a shame to see Fellows punished for his challenge in the second half as he had done such a good job out of possession for so much of the game in a role that was not natural to the 20-year-old.
While he does go to ground too early and therefore gives the referee a decision to make, Manning was already on his way to the deck. No matter what happened in the penalty area, the Southampton man was going down.
As Warnock suggested, these things tend to even themselves up over the course of the season and while Fellows was unfortunate to have the decision go against him, Kipre got away with a blatant foul only moments earlier.
Hopefully, Corberan and Albion can strengthen over the summer and prepare to mount another promotion push next season. Things are heading in the right direction at The Hawthorns and one game doesn’t change that.
In other West Brom news, Tony Brown was left shocked by an incident in the Baggies’ clash with the Saints at The Hawthorns
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