Fourteen seconds into the second half at the Brittania, the referee was pointing to the spot after Matthew Etherington had created a penalty for himself. The Stoke City left winger beat James Tompkins down the left, and after going to ground after Scott Parker had closed him down in the left part of the penalty area, Ehterington had earned himself a dubious penalty. Parker did not appear to touch Etherington.
Stoke City Vs. West Ham United, FA Cup: Robert Green Save Denies Matthew Etherington Dive-Induced Penalty Kick Goal
Justice, however, may have been done when Robert Green saved the try. The West Ham keeper guessed correctly, diving left, and bet a poor chance by Etherington. The winger’s left-footed shot was placed a few feet right of Green’s starting position, the ball only three feet off the ground. It was a relatively easy save for Green, who may have been lucky for to have dived beyond the unexpectedly poor shot.
But as much as West Ham was saved from having an unfair goal tallied against them, referee Michael Jones was saved. West Ham are due to have a goal go against them, given the nature of Frederic Piquionne's equalizer. Michael Jones, however, is having a horrible day, one that will look better for Green having prevented that goal.
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