Saturday’s meeting between Wolves and Bournemouth had the kind of bite we’ve become accustomed to in this fixture.
Bournemouth opened the scoring within five minutes of kick-off, courtesy of a Jean-Ricner Bellegarde error.
Toti Gomes, Wolves’ new captain, was shown red early in the second half, and Andoni Iraola’s side held on.
Speaking to Molineux News, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has talked us through the sending off.
Mark Clattenburg gives his verdict on Toti Gomes foul on Evanilson
A referee with 297 Premier League matches under his belt, Mark Clattenburg has had to reach into the back pocket enough times.
He tells us this would have been one of those occasions, saying: “Evanilson races through on goal before Toti Gomes gives him a shove in the back, resulting in a clear foul.”
Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
“The referee Thomas Bramall has a decision to make to decide if the forward has a goal-scoring opportunity and if the foul was outside the penalty area. On both counts, he got the decision correct as the forward had clear control of the ball and was central to the goal.”
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Toti protested briefly, but to no avail. The Portuguese skipper would leave the pitch, spurring Vitor Pereira to replace Jhon Arias with Santi Bueno, muzzling Wolves’ attack.
Toti Gomes will get a one-match suspension
Clear opportunity or not, Toti was doomed to miss the Everton game.
As Clattenburg explains: “Even if the forward did not have clear control of the ball, Toti Gomes had already been cautioned in the match and therefore would have been sent off for a second caution.”
After just eight minutes of play, Toti was booked for a rather unnecessary sliding tackle. He was one of six players to go into the book at the Vitality.
As for how this affects the rest of his season: “He will still serve a one-match suspension for the direct red card, and his yellow card will still count towards his five that will result in a further suspension.”
Not ideal for Wolves’ prospects of points next weekend without their captain.