Warnock unloads in frustration at Branthwaite

I watched the game; he played well, started slowly, grew into the game very well.

In the Premier League, that’s a red card and penalty all day.

Branthwaite is very raw and Mowbray's comments underline why this loan is the right decision for the lad’s development.

I understand Warnock's frustrations but he should be directing them towards the officials. This could have been a lot more serious for the Middlesbrough player.

West Bromwich Albion manager Gary Megson stated after the match, "There will be no replay. If we are called back to Bramall Lane we shall kick-off and then walk off the pitch. I've been in professional football since 16 and I'm 42 now. I've never ever witnessed anything as disgraceful as that. There is no place for that in any game of football, let alone professional football."

Kettle, pots, black. mmmmm

I read Tony Mowbray saying he wasnt aware of what had gone on, well I am sure knowing Warnock he would have been voicing his opinion to Mowbray during the game. So when the game finished he must have noticed Warnock making a beeline for young Branthwaite, so why didnt he run over to protect his player or if he didnt want to get involved he should have told one of his coaches to stop Warnock getting to Branthwaite.

Also you have to ask about the senior Blackburn players not stepping in to support Branthwaite.

Interviewer
"Are you concious of the mind games and chat Neil gives to opposing managers during a game."

Jones
" He doesnt do that with me"

Interviewer
"Why is that"

Jones
" Because he knows I will punch him if he does"

Bluffer of the highest order Mr Warnock

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the challenge, it is not for an opposing manager to take that upon himself in that way. I'm bloody livid about this...

Mind you, just seen the incident. Young Jarrad was a little err...

I don't know enough about Small but I like the look of Onyango, he has something about him on the few occasions I've seen him play.

What exactly are we going to do about it?

A manager said a mean thing to one of our players... that isn't currently at our club.

You should hear some of the things players say to referees!

Wouldn't bother me what anyone said. Simply apologise for a strong challenge that may have accidentally caused an injury, learn from it and move on.

Take the high road, be the better man or at least appear to be. There's a lot more still to learn, no point in getting wound up or involved in anything else.

Pickford got it right with Van Dijk. Concentrate on the game without letting it distract you. Next day say sorry, learn and move on.

As an ex Everton player once said to me: “Warnock is one of the most disliked people in football.” He said it a bit more cruder than that though.

Now he's never been famous for timing his tackles, and suppose he clattered one of Warnock’s lads and Warnock went on the pitch to have a go. SAF would have crucified him.

Branthwaite Incident

As James Marshall said, a total accident that you get every weekend. Very clearly:

* Jarrad only has eyes for the flight of the ball the whole time
* Two players - the other Blackburn centre back and a 'Boro player - come together on his blindside. Jarrad could just have easily caught his own player as the 'Boro player
* Initially, everyone is very matter-of-fact about it. Everyone jogs away. Jarrad oblivious to what he has done
* The injured 'Boro player then realises he has a problem and the medics come on
* Two Blackburn players approach the injured player to see if he is OK. One of them is Jarrad
* There is absolutely NO mobbing of the referee or Jarrad by irate Blackburn players
* The ref consults the VAR officials and no further action - neither penalty nor card of any colour - is awarded
* The game goes on

Personally, even though it was a complete unintentional accident, I still think Jarrad is a lucky boy. Raising the boot so high and catching the player as he does can still be constituted as dangerous play and a penalty and red card could easily have followed.

I didn't watch the game so have no idea how he played following the incident, but my first instinct was 'he is one really cool dude to simply walk away as he does following the coming together'.

Should he have went for the header?

I honestly can't remember the standard of officiating being this uniformly dismal. This incident is just another example.

Thomas (35) spoken like a great defence barrister!!

I rest my case, m'lord!

It's a penalty as it's a high foot and so an illegal challenge but I'd say only a yellow as there is no jump or lunge towards a player he can clearly see coming to attack the ball.

For me, it's the overhead attempts that are really the reckless ones and it is double standards being applied to this challenge purely because the attacker gets a nasty facial injury.

It’s high enough to boot him in the face mate.

Frey is a 6-ft 4-in centre-half. He was stooping slightly so the connection is not the full 6'-4". It's around the 6-foot mark though.

I reckon Jarrad was caught flat/footed. One step firwards and it's a free header for him.

All part of the learning curve for a player, in my opinion, who will be top class.

Poor challenge though from Jarred – a bit like the penalty Davies gave away a few weeks back when he took a swing at the ball not realising there was a player in the way.

These things happen, but it's a good example of why young defenders should go out on a couple of lower league loans – so they can make their mistakes there and hopefully learn from them.

The FBI had an opening for an assassin.
After all the background checks, interviews and testing were done, there were 3 finalists; Two women and a man.
For the final test, the FBI agents took one of the women to a large metal door and handed her a gun.
'We must know that you will follow your Instructions no matter what the circumstances.

Inside the room you will find your husband sitting in a chair Kill him!!'

The woman said, 'You can't be serious I could never shoot my husband. '

The agent said, 'Then you're not the right woman for this job. Take your husband and go home.'

The second woman was given the same instructions. She took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet forabout 5 minutes.

The woman came out with tears in her eyes, 'I tried, But I can't kill my husband. ' The agent said, 'You don't have what it takes. Take your husband and go home.'

Finally, it was the man’s turn. He was given the same instructions, to kill his wife. He took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls.. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the man, wiping the sweat from his brow.

'This gun is loaded with blanks' he said. 'I had to kill her with the fucking chair!'

Out in the middle of the pitch, a red can be given for recklessness, and might well have been.