SEMI AJAYI was sent off for West Brom in a huge call during the 0-0 draw with Burnley.
Referee Mike Dean’s hopes for a quiet return after receiving death threats were ruined – as Sam Allardyce must be wondering how his desperate 10-man Baggies only got a draw.
Mike Dean shows the red card to Semi AjayiCredit: AP:Associated Press
Ajayi was dismissed for handling the ball and stopping a clear goalscoring opportunityCredit: Sky Sports
Dean asked to be stood down last weekend after the referee and his family were subjected to vile online abuse for sending West Ham’s Tomas Soucek off.
Ajayi was shown the red card after Dean used VAR to rule he handled the ball and prevented Matej Vydra from a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Dean waved play on but VAR intervened and, after looking on the pitch side monitor, Ajayi was given his marching orders – the fourth red given by Dean in his last three Prem games.
It was a nightmare moment for Sam Allardyce’s side as they were reduced to ten men in the 30th minute.
Burnley later thought they had a nailed-on penalty for a handball by Kyle Bartley but Dean waved away the protests.
The Baggies, with 10 men for an hour, had the best chances to claim a precious three points in their unlikely survival bid.
But Ainsley Maitland-Miles lashed over before Mbaye Diagne – sporting a dodgy blue haircut – fired against the bar from close-range.
With Burnley caught on the counter, Diagne cut in from the right and beat last man James Tarkowski before thumping off the upright.
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Matheus Pereira had a great chance to win it for ten-men West Brom, but James Tarkowski headed off the lineCredit: AFP
And moments later the Senegal striker laid it on a plate for Matheus Pereira, who got his feet in his tangle and fluffed his lines.
It fell again to Pereira, but his shot was heroically headed off the line by James Tarkowski.
And while a point with 10 men is normally to be lauded, the Baggies are still 11 points off safety and will unlikely have a better opportunity to make up ground.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
