Atkinson Makes Arsenal Pay

As a Premiership referee, you might reasonably be expected to have the necessary talent to spot a blatant penalty when you benefit from a clear, unobstructed view from around six yards – but not, apparently, if your name is Martin Atkinson.

So when Blackburn Rovers’ Warnock brought down Jeremie Aliadiere in the box late in the game, without getting anywhere near the ball, there was a stunned silence as Mr Atkinson waved play on and Arsenal were obliged to contemplate a tedious trip to Lancashire for a replay which should not have been necessary.

Cynics might say that Arsenal did not play well and they would be right. They might also claim that even so the Gunners had enough chances to have progressed to the next round of the F.A. Cup and they would be right again. But none of this alters the fact that once more it was the incompetence of the referee which really decided the match.

Something for which, regrettably, he is extremely unlikely to be called to account.