TV coverage isn't a fair Kop - View From The North Stand
11:17am Friday 8th February 2008
SATURDAY'S televised match at Anfield played second fiddle to a post-game protest by the Kop faithful, unhappy with the way their club is being run by its new American owners.
These are the same fans whose march from their local pub to the ground - the same walk they always do - masqueraded as a protest'.
This time around, their statement of disapproval was equally misguided.
The owners of the club will have been enjoying their time in the executive lounge while 2,000 of their fans stood in the cold, looking thoroughly peeved. Hardly effective.
The TV crew said it was a shame that the protest would detract from the match, and promptly dedicated the 15 minutes of post-match digest to Liverpool's goals and then that protest. Thanks.
So we didn't see Jamie Carragher's handball. But then again, nor did referee Rob Styles. The same referee who gave a penalty against Danny Higginbotham at Blackburn in December. Odd, that.
If we had been awarded the penalty, it would have been merely consolation.
Following the spirited win in midweek against Birmingham, I expected that same level of performance at Liverpool. But we looked out of our depth on Saturday night. Impotent going forward and lacklustre in midfield. An early injury to Kieran Richardson didn't help at all, the game plan went out of the window as we struggled to formulate any ideas to break down Liverpool.
The three-goal defeat will do our goal difference further damage. As I've said before, it may cost us come the end of the season.
We've got Wigan at home tomorrow, and I can't wait. It's another six-pointer and we need to win. We owe Wigan a beating after they put us out of the FA Cup last month.
Add that defeat to the one earlier in the season, and that's six goals they've put past us so far. That's just not good enough. We've failed to beat Wigan this season, but we're on a three-match winning streak in the league at home. We simply have to make it four tomorrow.
I note that Clive Clarke's contract was terminated this week amid fears over his health.
That's the official line, but I would bet it had little to do with his health and more to do with his comments to the media last month.