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Lee-Barrett: Players Would Have Been Happy to Continue
Lee-Barrett: Players Would Have Been Happy to Continue
Monday, 13th Feb 2012 15:27

Arran Lee-Barrett has confirmed that the Town players would have been happy if Saturday’s abandoned game against Middlesbrough had continued.

The Ipswich keeper is the first player to speak publicly after referee Dean Whitestone decided to call a halt just 37 minutes into the fixture.

Lee-Barrett, who will be 28 later this month, said: “I only saw the goal area and it was quite soft there but apparently it was quite hard along the sidelines and one of the linesmen was struggling to keep his balance.”

With Town skipper Ibrahima Sonko having gone down injured — boss Paul Jewell confirmed today the Senegal defender sustained a dislocated rib that is likely to keep him out for up to a month — and one of the linesman unable to keep his feet, the referee decided enough was enough.

But Lee-Barrett admitted: “I didn’t even think about it being called off at that point and it was a bit of a shock when he blew up. As far as we were concerned we were on top and quite happy to go on.”


Photo: Action Images



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Benters added 15:31 - Feb 13
So would i have been matey
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JewellintheTown added 15:31 - Feb 13
"... it was a bit of a shock when he blew up. As far as we were concerned we were on top and quite happy to go on."
- Has ALB got a new inflatable male doll? Dirty boy ...
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carsey added 15:35 - Feb 13
Sonkos injury had nothing to do with the pitch. He was already strapped up and carrying an abdominal injury when the trainer came on it could be clearly seen from the North Stand.
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legoman added 15:36 - Feb 13
Should have sanded the astro strips. Live and learn.
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bugblatter added 15:39 - Feb 13
Stop stirring Phil!
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big_gaz67 added 15:43 - Feb 13
This linesman losing his footing thing is a farce. The ground could not have been harder than concrete. Each year several thousand people run, some in amusing outfits, for 26 miles on concrete. So surely if the lineman/referee's assistance or whatever they're called this week, work the correct footwear - no issue?

The fourth official, who was slouching around looking very scruffy, unshaven, cold and bored, seem to get very involved. Peharps he thought standing in the cold was beneath him?
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MrCool added 15:45 - Feb 13
Well, I was there and pretty hacked-off at the time - but I guess you have to have some sympathy with the ref. If he had carried on and if a player was injured on the hard ground, then we'd all be reading about what a "crazy" decision it was....

Damned if you do, etc, etc..
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Garv added 16:04 - Feb 13
The joke is underlined by the fact the referee thought Sonko's injury came about because of the pitch.
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sonian_blue added 16:07 - Feb 13
Of course you would Arran, you didnt have a save to make during the 37 minutes.
We were so on top it is untrue. Why do I think it was a sure 3 points gone. Typical soft lino, bit like that one who fell in the photographers pit a couple of seasons ago....still brings a smile to my face!!
Still onwards and upwards, we will stick it to Pompey tomorrow night instead. Best we are on the front foot though as I dont fancy our defence much....again!
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blueblood66 added 18:26 - Feb 13
I sit on that side of the pitch Brittannia Lower and the lino had the wrong footwear on! He was moaning about the astroturf which is laid along the touchline, and was running on the side on the pitch a few yards on the field of play. I have no doubt thats why the ref called it off.
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gypo added 18:55 - Feb 13
And the boro left back used this as a excuse because he could`nt handle jet coming at him.
Then again if he was running towards me i`d be sh!tting myself to
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newboy added 19:18 - Feb 13
A poor excuse if sonko was already injured and the players cant win he will be condemmed for saying he would go on and if hed said they were cold the ground was hard and he wanted to go in he would be condemned still over and done no point going on about it
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slowerball added 23:10 - Feb 13
The players just want to play... not a problem. Especially not for ALB - who by my reckoning is about 8th choice if you consider all the keepers that were in front of him over the last few years.
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MichaelRockyLavelle added 23:36 - Feb 13
@Carsey
He didnt have the strap on already, they put that on then - first they put a plaster on then the strap. I could clearly see it from the North upper.
but still- nothing to do with the pitch!!! FFS
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carsey added 00:08 - Feb 14
MichaelRockyLavelle
I stand corrected but but doesn't excuse PJ suggesting the ijury was a result of the pitch condition.
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Cheshire_Blue added 11:30 - Feb 14
The referee made the right decision but at the wrong time. What is unforgiveable and shows a lack of ability on the part of the referee was the decision to start the match, knowing what the temperature was at 11am and no forecast of an improvement. It was obvious to most people (but not the referee) that the pitch was going to freeze once it was uncovered.
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