It seems it was a head-lock now, what happened to the shirt-pulling, and the Blues goal should have been cancelled out!
This is what Scunny manager Nigel Adkins said about the incident and the game overall: "I have looked at the video and their defender, Adam Barrett, had David Mirfin in a head-lock" he insisted. 'It was a spot-on decision by the officials. But I have to say Southend's goal should never have been allowed. Their player was all over one of my defenders when he scored with a header."
Adkins remained upbeat as Scunthorpe stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games: "After winning 10 of the previous 11, if you can't win again, then it's important not to get beat" he continued. "Some of our attacking football was really a joy to watch. We created plenty of chances and on another night we could have been talking about a win by four or five goals."
Blues boss Steve Tilson, speaking to www.southendunited.co.uk, took another view and was furious with the penalty decision but happy with the club's unbeaten run now stretching to seven matches.
"I don't know how the linesman can have given a decision like that" he groaned. "The referee was much nearer the incident and yet he saw nothing wrong. Too many of these decisions are going against us this season. But what can I do, apart from get myself into trouble. We feel the officials have certainly cost us two points, though to be fair, a draw was probably the fairest result. We didn't let our heads drop and full credit to the players to the way the players performed for the full 90 minutes. We knew it would be a hard match and it was a great header from Adam to give us the lead. We would have taken a point before the game and I'd like to think both teams will be up there at the end of the season. We have to keep this run going."
The man involved in both goals, Skipper Adam Barrett, who along with defensive partner Peter Clarke were magnificent on the night, had this to say: "I can't believe it. I was absolutely gob smacked if I am honest. Their guy was running for the ball and I was jockeying him as I had been for 99% of the game. It was a terrible decision that has cost us a win. If it was a penalty I would be the first to hold my hands up but for me it was a very, very bad decision and unfortunately it has cost us two points tonight."
However Captain Adam was more than happy to talk about his bullet header that gave him his first goal of the season: "The ball into the box was the first real one I've had to attack this season. Hal put the ball into a great area and I fancied myself to score so it was a delight to put it in. It is a tremendous point against a very good side. Scunthorpe were good on the break and created chances that they might put away on another day. A point is a fair result and we can't grumble with that but the annoying thing is the way they have got that point. This could end up being a big point for us at the end of the day."
And so say all of us.
More positive news was that our two on-loan players from Championship side Reading, keeper Adam Federici and left winger Hal Robson-Kanu, will stay at the club for longer periods. Both very important to our recent run.
Aussie Adam has signed for a further month which takes him up to the end of the Oldham game on November 22. Big Steve Mildenhall, who had a good game by all accounts in a behind closed doors friendly played at Tottenham's training ground, will probably play in the FA Cup First Round on November 8 to prevent Federici from being cup tied for the later rounds of the tournament.
As predicted back after the Orient game HRK will play out the full 93 days of an emergency loan which takes him into November. Both will be a great loss, to play five games at the end of the year without Hal on the left wing will be noticed. Negotiations for a longer loan period from January to start now please Uncle Ron!
Federici - Forget it. Aussie Adam is looking at a Championship place at Reading, even Premiership if their season continues in the vain it's started. Enjoy while it lasts and anyway, Joycey is a good reserve once Big Steve is back who was looking good when he picked up his injury.
(From TLG 'Loan Watch' September 27, 2008)