Irvine blames referee for Burnley derby draw

10:19am Monday 18th March 2013 in Football Photograph of the Author By Alex James, Assistant Sports Editor

CLARETS legend Willie Irvine felt crucial refereeing decisions cost Burnley the chance to end 34 years of hurt against their East Lancashire rivals.

Burnley looked on course for a first victory over Blackburn Rovers since 1979 when they took the lead through Jason Shackell’s first half finish.

But a red card for full back Ben Mee midway through the second period changed the complexion of the game and Rovers levelled deep into stoppage time when David Dunn fired home.

And Irvine, who played more than 125 games for Burnley in an eight year stay at Turf Moor, believed that referee Andy D’Urso had cost the Clarets the points.

“I didn’t think the referee had a very good game,” said Irvine.

“He showed no consistency and for a lot of the game he seemed to penalise Burnley players too heavily.

“I didn’t think it was a red card in a million years and I don’t think anyone else felt it was but you could tell he was going to send him off by the way he waited for everything to calm down.

“There were a lot of fouls that he didn’t give yellow cards for and then some decisions which he decided to give a yellow for which were no worse than ones that had gone unpunished. It was very frustrating from a Burnley point of view.

“I thought both yellow cards for Ben Mee were not yellow cards and have no doubt that we would have won the game if we had kept 11 players on the field.”

But Irvine added that he was pleased to be leaving Ewood Park with a point, admitting he would have taken a 1-1 draw before kick-off.

“We have a point that I didn’t think we would get,” he added. “I am pleased we have got a point out of the derby but it is just a shame we lost three points in the last minute.

“But it is still a good result and the real positive for me was the fight and spirit that the Burnley players showed. They really battled well and I thought with 10 men we were fantastic. “It wasn’t a great game and it was scrappy and there were a lot of breaks in play but I thought the Burnley defence was fantastic.”

Comments (11)

11:03am Mon 18 Mar 13

bluenick says...

Mr Irvine!
The ref should have given Rovers a penalty when Rhodes had his head kicked with a very high foot in the box. The ref, you & the papers seemed to have forgot that let off!
Mr Irvine! The ref should have given Rovers a penalty when Rhodes had his head kicked with a very high foot in the box. The ref, you & the papers seemed to have forgot that let off! bluenick

11:31am Mon 18 Mar 13

Shorty Medlocke says...

What a Willy you are Mr Irvine. Blame your own players, one sent off whilst the remaining ten time waste by lying on the floor feigning injury, giving Dunny and Rovers just enough time to equalise.
What a Willy you are Mr Irvine. Blame your own players, one sent off whilst the remaining ten time waste by lying on the floor feigning injury, giving Dunny and Rovers just enough time to equalise. Shorty Medlocke

12:59pm Mon 18 Mar 13

spike t says...

bluenick wrote:
Mr Irvine!
The ref should have given Rovers a penalty when Rhodes had his head kicked with a very high foot in the box. The ref, you & the papers seemed to have forgot that let off!
It was Rhodes ducking down! One decision the ref got right!
How the ref could miss Dunny being offside is beyond belief! You cannot miss something that large!
[quote][p][bold]bluenick[/bold] wrote: Mr Irvine! The ref should have given Rovers a penalty when Rhodes had his head kicked with a very high foot in the box. The ref, you & the papers seemed to have forgot that let off![/p][/quote]It was Rhodes ducking down! One decision the ref got right! How the ref could miss Dunny being offside is beyond belief! You cannot miss something that large! spike t

1:01pm Mon 18 Mar 13

spike t says...

Hanley should also have walked if D'urso was being consistent. Hands around a players neck, blatant elbow!
Never mind that point might keep Rovers up!
Hanley should also have walked if D'urso was being consistent. Hands around a players neck, blatant elbow! Never mind that point might keep Rovers up! spike t

1:14pm Mon 18 Mar 13

bluenick says...

spike t wrote:
bluenick wrote:
Mr Irvine!
The ref should have given Rovers a penalty when Rhodes had his head kicked with a very high foot in the box. The ref, you & the papers seemed to have forgot that let off!
It was Rhodes ducking down! One decision the ref got right!
How the ref could miss Dunny being offside is beyond belief! You cannot miss something that large!
Dingle defenders did!! lol!!
[quote][p][bold]spike t[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]bluenick[/bold] wrote: Mr Irvine! The ref should have given Rovers a penalty when Rhodes had his head kicked with a very high foot in the box. The ref, you & the papers seemed to have forgot that let off![/p][/quote]It was Rhodes ducking down! One decision the ref got right! How the ref could miss Dunny being offside is beyond belief! You cannot miss something that large![/p][/quote]Dingle defenders did!! lol!! bluenick

1:15pm Mon 18 Mar 13

bluenick says...

spike t wrote:
bluenick wrote:
Mr Irvine!
The ref should have given Rovers a penalty when Rhodes had his head kicked with a very high foot in the box. The ref, you & the papers seemed to have forgot that let off!
It was Rhodes ducking down! One decision the ref got right!
How the ref could miss Dunny being offside is beyond belief! You cannot miss something that large!
Dingle defenders did!! lol!!
[quote][p][bold]spike t[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]bluenick[/bold] wrote: Mr Irvine! The ref should have given Rovers a penalty when Rhodes had his head kicked with a very high foot in the box. The ref, you & the papers seemed to have forgot that let off![/p][/quote]It was Rhodes ducking down! One decision the ref got right! How the ref could miss Dunny being offside is beyond belief! You cannot miss something that large![/p][/quote]Dingle defenders did!! lol!! bluenick

3:00pm Mon 18 Mar 13

allan1957 says...

Mees's first yellow was for two fouls within thirty seconds of each other(the first foul could easily have been given a yellow) and the sending off was not a straight red it was a second yellow for a late challenge on Dann after the ball had gone therefore justified being sent off.
Mees's first yellow was for two fouls within thirty seconds of each other(the first foul could easily have been given a yellow) and the sending off was not a straight red it was a second yellow for a late challenge on Dann after the ball had gone therefore justified being sent off. allan1957

5:15pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Chico! says...

What a sad, bitter old dingle windbag.

I think he needs his nappy changing.
What a sad, bitter old dingle windbag. I think he needs his nappy changing. Chico!

7:56pm Mon 18 Mar 13

rover-till-dudp says...

What planet is Irvine on? Mee gets a yellow card, not content with that within minutes commits another yellow card foul and is sent off. What a chump. Rovers fans do not need reminding that Burnley players are all brawn and no brains.
What planet is Irvine on? Mee gets a yellow card, not content with that within minutes commits another yellow card foul and is sent off. What a chump. Rovers fans do not need reminding that Burnley players are all brawn and no brains. rover-till-dudp

11:53pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Gob says...

Get in your old tin bath and cool down old man!
Get in your old tin bath and cool down old man! Gob

10:16am Tue 19 Mar 13

claretmacca says...

As a Claret I don't think we can blame the ref. The Red card was harsh in my opinion but there you go. I do think though that it was a penalty on Rhodes from Duff. Had that been the other way round we would be crying foul play.

Hanley should have walked. Horrible player. But these decisions went both ways.

Great Derby, great atmosphere, plenty of contentious decisions. Very hard to take the last minute goal, especially from Dunn but the derby was everything it should be. It has certainly ignited the interest for next season for me already.

We should have put the game to bed but defended way to deep and invited pressure on.

The gap is closing and I for one can't wait for next season when hopefully we get them at home first and win in front of our own fans. If it is on TV (which it should be) even better. Looking forward to extending that three year unbeaten run!
As a Claret I don't think we can blame the ref. The Red card was harsh in my opinion but there you go. I do think though that it was a penalty on Rhodes from Duff. Had that been the other way round we would be crying foul play. Hanley should have walked. Horrible player. But these decisions went both ways. Great Derby, great atmosphere, plenty of contentious decisions. Very hard to take the last minute goal, especially from Dunn but the derby was everything it should be. It has certainly ignited the interest for next season for me already. We should have put the game to bed but defended way to deep and invited pressure on. The gap is closing and I for one can't wait for next season when hopefully we get them at home first and win in front of our own fans. If it is on TV (which it should be) even better. Looking forward to extending that three year unbeaten run! claretmacca

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