Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has expressed his disappointment at the refereeing display of Neil Swarbrick in this afternoon's Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the season.
Poyet was particularly annoyed by the West Brom penalty shortly before half time from which they made it 1-1. Valentin Roberge was adjudged to have impeded Victor Anichebe, but Poyet felt that it was "soft".
The match finished 2-2 at The Hawthorns.
"I was quite disappointed," Poyet told Sky Sports News. "I was not expecting to have the opportunity to come here and even have to try to talk about a referee decision in the Premier League.
"I mean, it's so simple. I don't even need to comment, it's not worth it. We are not playing in this football to give soft decisions. I don't know what happened after that decision to stop the game.
"You need to ask them, but it's not the way I wanted to start the league, talking about referees again. I wanted to talk about football."
Sunderland can earn their first win of the season next Sunday when they host Manchester United, who lost at home to Swansea City earlier today.
Pascal Lemesre
