Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola expressed his frustration with the referee’s performance in his team’s 4-2 defeat to Sunderland. The Black Cats staged a stunning comeback, overturning a two-goal deficit to secure a memorable win.
“We knew it was going to be tough, but the referee’s decisions were very influential,” Iraola said. “We’ve been struggling with defensive set pieces, and it cost us dearly today. The penalty decision was crucial, and I think the referee lost control of the game.”
Iraola was particularly incensed by the third goal, which came after a foul on the halfway line was seemingly ignored. “It’s not just one decision; it’s the accumulation of incidents that went unpunished,” he said.
The win was a significant boost for Sunderland, but it came at a cost for Bournemouth, who will be without three key players due to suspensions. Iraola acknowledged the difficulty in criticizing his players, given the circumstances.
“We’re losing important players, and it’s hard not to think about what could have been,” he said. “I’ve been shown a yellow card, and I could easily have been sent off. It’s tough to swallow, but we have to move forward.”
