Eddie Howe says Bournemouth are moving on after a Jon Moss error last week
Friday 8 December 2017 11:24, UK
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe thinks referee Jon Moss should be praised after apologising for a mistake last week.
Moss booked Adam Smith for simulation during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Southampton when the Cherries defender went down under pressure from Sofiane Boufal in the penalty area.
An aggrieved Smith reported after the match that Moss had apologised and said he should have awarded a penalty - but there is no process by which the yellow can be rescinded and Smith will be suspended for Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace because it was his fifth booking of the season.
Asked about Moss' apology, Howe said: "I think the referee deserves credit for that, I am not going to sit here and criticise him for admitting that he made a mistake
"I think that is fine and the referees' report agreed as well that he got the decision wrong, so all you can ask is that people reflect, analyse and try and improve themselves.
"That is what I would say to any of my players who make a mistake, and it is the same with referees.
"I have got no problem with that and the rules are that nothing can be done for Adam or for us with the penalty decision, but that is football and we move on to the next game."
And Howe is not sure that the rules should be changed to allow more flexibility if the same situation occurs again.
"I don't want to be clever over one incident, that leads to a change of rule necessarily," the Bournemouth manager added.
"The rules are there for a reason
"We have been unfortunate on this occasion but they say it evens itself out, so we wait for that one coming back in our favour!"
