Friday 1 December 2017 10:53, UK
Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has questioned whether referee Martin Atkinson should be officiating in the Premier League this weekend.
Hughes was angered that Atkinson failed to send off Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in Stoke's 3-0 home defeat on Wednesday night.
Mignolet brought down Mame Biram Diouf on the edge of the box when they were only a goal down, with Hughes convinced Diouf had an easy chance to score had he not been fouled.
Atkinson will take charge of Watford's game against Tottenham in the top flight on Saturday but Hughes feels referees should be held accountable in the same way as players and coaches are.
"When officials aren't really getting the key decisions right, that frustrates me," Hughes said ahead of Saturday's game against fellow strugglers Swansea at the Bet365 Stadium.
"Referees who've reviewed it, clearly everyone in the stadium....except for one....it was a key moment, huge moment for us because we were in the ascendancy, we needed a little bit of help from the officials and didn't get it, unfortunately.
"Why it wasn't made, no one really knows. [It was a] pretty straightforward decision. It denied us the chance to have an advantage in numbers, denied a clear goalscoring opportunity because Mame Diouf would've rolled the ball into an empty net.
"How that's not deemed a clear goalscoring opportunity I've no idea.
"It should be recognised maybe that referees make a mistake. I'm sure the referee we had on Wednesday will get a game this weekend.
"I would ask why because he's made a fundamental mistake, an error that's changed the course of the game. I don't see why he should be refereeing this weekend."
Hughes feels City are not being rewarded with the results their performances have merited this season, with some poor defending at key moments letting them down.
Swansea boss Paul Clement has described Saturday's game between the sides as 'must win' and Hughes is confident they can secure their first Premier League victory in five attempts against second-bottom Swans.
"Performances are better than results describe," added Hughes. "I'd argue the performance on Wednesday was good up to 77 minutes when the second goal went in.
"Beaten by a last minute goal at Palace last weekend, better team, as we were against Brighton, I'd argue.
"If we don't get the results our performances deserve, we put ourselves under pressure, which is where we are now, but I fully expect us to put that right against Swansea.
"We need to get back to winning ways. I sense that is what we will do at the weekend."
