As a Spurs fan I can console myself at a 1-1 draw against a team of dubious morals such as Blackburn Rovers is really a point gained rather than yet another two points lost as the race for fourth place rapidly becomes a race for sixth place in this season’s Premiership. What I can’t have though is “Son of Fergie” Mark Hughes bleating on about how hard done by his poor Blackburn side were and how referees need to be backed up by video evidence if they aren’t to ruin games as Phil Dowd supposedly did yesterday.

Now, I’ve watched the replays of all of the incidents numerous times on Match of the Day 2 last night and for the life of me I can’t see what Hughes is complaining about on a single issue. maybe some of our Blackburn friends will say I’ve got the Tottenham tinted spectacles on but I can assure you I’d be more than happy to side with anyone against referees in almost any circumstances but this time I really can’t.

The penalty incident which gave Tottenham their goal was as blatant a penalty as any I’ve seen all season. Ghaly flicked the ball over Tugay and when he went to run past him was tripped by Tugay’s trailing leg when in on goal. We all remember Mark Hughes as a player and as such shouldn’t be surprised at his somewhat limited understanding of the rules of football but even still, it’s as clearcut a penalty as you’ll see and still he complains.

As the last man Tugay also then has to be sent off and as the referee consulted with his linesman and didn’t just immediately reach for a red card I think he should be applauded rather than castigated for his controlled, measured performance.

The Mido “handball” incident is also equally ludicrous. Replays quite blatantly show that he controlled the ball expertly on his chest and for Mark Hughes to think that he could see it clearly from a long way away and accuse Mido of handling the ball pretty much sums the man up. Video replays Mark? Watch Match of the Day and then shut your mouth.

I won’t even defend Hossam Ghaly for his sending off as he did jump in with an elbow up and while I don’t believe it was to intentionally hit Michael Gray, it does give the referee an excuse to play up to the baying home crowd and as such Ghaly has no excuses.

The swift backtracking from the referee over Martin Jol’s “sending off” wouldn’t have anything to do with the threat of a nag’s head in his bed this morning either would it? It sure looked like he was sending him off to me but maybe that’s just the benefit of video replays as Mark Hughes says.

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