<i>The worst decision ever?</i>
Aidy Boothroyd, the Watford manager, admitted that he had 'never seen anything like it' after seeing his side go behind to an incredibly controversial goal in the 2-2 draw with Reading.
Reading took the lead in the 13th minute when linesman Nigel Bannister farcically flagged for a goal instead of a corner when the ball crossed the goalline wide of the goal after a challenge between John Eustace and Royals striker Noel Hunt. Despite not a single Reading player appealing, 25-year-old referee Stuart Attwell awarded the goal to complete astonishment around Vicarage Road.
Boothroyd said: 'I've never seen anything like it. It's like a UFO landing, a mistake like that. I've been to see the referee and in fairness he's only going on what the linesman says. He's working in a team and if someone comes in his ear telling him it's a goal then I suppose he's got to give it.
'I thought it was a goal-kick. What do you say to that? It was a strange sort of feeling because I was trying to calm my team down and get them going, but all I could think was "What was that for?"'
Watford fought back after the break to take the lead through strikes from Tommy Smith and John-Joe O'Toole before Stephen Hunt claimed a late penalty.
It was suggested that the Reading players, who obviously knew that it was not a goal, could have let Watford score, but Boothroyd insisted that it was up to the officials to get it right. He said: 'I don't expect players to take things into their own hands. It's not up to them. If someone stops you in a car park and gives you a present you don't say no do you? But these things supposedly even themselves out. So by the time I get to Fergie's [Sir Alex Ferguson] age, you won't believe how much luck I will be getting.'
Steve Coppell admitted he had no idea why the goal had been given and again called for video evidence to be brought into the game. He said: 'The game is crying out for video evidence. It's obvious. Rugby league puts us to shame with how referees can call for replays.
'I was in the stand at the time and I haven't seen it since. But when the whistle went I wondered what it was for as I couldn't see a foul. Then it became obvious that the referee had given the goal. But after speaking to Noel after the game it became clear that the ball went out of play wide of the goal.'
The Royals manager also insisted that it was not his responsibility to correct a mistake by the officials. He said: 'The responsibility is not with the opposition to right a wrong. It is up to the officials to get it as right as they can. It's like cricket, do you walk if you've nicked one behind? As a renowned opening batsmen I used to walk, but it's a hypothetical question.
'If the referee had told me at half-time that they'd cocked it up I don't know if I would have let Watford score.'
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