Exclusive: Both Emmanuel Dennis bookings controversial in Blackburn vs Norwich
Blackburn Rovers attacker Emmanuel Dennis was both fortunate and unlucky with his sending off in the draw with Norwich City, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA exclusively told Football Insider that while the striker’s first yellow could have been a red card, he was unfortunate that his second offence was punished with a booking.
After John Eustace left Blackburn for Derby last month, Valerien Ismael oversaw his first game as the new Rovers boss on Saturday (1 March) in that clash with Norwich at Ewood Park.
It was a game that ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw, with that eventful finish sparked by the second yellow card shown to Dennis.
Emmanuel Dennis bookings controversial for different reasons
The hosts were perhaps fortunate not to go down to ten men earlier in the game, after Blackburn centre-back Dom Hyam caught Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the face with his arm.
There were then more suggestions that Ismael’s side could have found themselves down to ten men just a couple of moments after Dennis had been introduced from the bench.
As the on-loan Nottingham Forest attacker chased a loose ball, he produced a sliding challenge that saw his studs land on the ankle of Norwich full-back Ben Chrisene.
Twenty minutes later, as Dennis looked to meet a cross on the volley, the Blackburn attacker caught the foot of Chrisene, who was again left rolling on the ground in theatrical fashion.
| Blackburn last five games | Result |
| Wolves (H) | Lost 2-0 |
| West Brom (A) | Won 2-0 |
| Plymouth Argyle (H) | Won 2-0 |
| Swansea City (A) | Lost 3-0 |
| Norwich City (H) | Drew 1-1 |
Referee Leigh Doughty then showed the 27-year-old a second yellow card, meaning he was at that point sent off, despite suggestions that booking was as harsh as the first was lenient.
Norwich would then take the lead in the final minute of normal time through Ante Crnac, only for Andi Weimann to equalise deep into stoppage time for Blackburn.
As a result, both side remain in the hunt for a Championship play-off place heading into the final months of the season.
Now Hackett has stated that while he belives the forward could have been sent off for the first challenge, he should not have been giving another caution for the second.
Keith Hackett runs the rule over Blackburn Rovers dismissal
Speaking to Football Insider about those two yellow cards for Dennis, the former referee said:
“I think on that first one he’s lucky not to get a red, I think the reason he’s not got a red is the referee’s only got a part view of it, he hasn’t got the view of a replay I think that’s why.
“For me, that second one is a cheap yellow, ignore what the first one is because in the referee’s mind, he’s quite happy that he’s given a yellow and that’s the correct decision.
“He doesn’t have doubt about that and once you’ve given that, you can park it. What I expect from referees in this game of football, is that if you’re going to issue a second yellow card, for me it shouldn’t be a technical offence, it really should be nailed on.
“I think the first one could easily have been red and the second one: cheap. On that one, if I’m coaching the referee I’m saying ‘manage it’ and if he’s given a second yellow on it then I think he needs some operational advice.
“We’re not in grassroots football here we’re at the professional level, I don’t promote weak refereeing but what I do is promote common-sense refereeing, and a referee needs to go onto the field of play with the attitude ‘I want to work really hard to keep players on’.
“I’m really not sold on that second yellow!“
Blackburn are next in action when they travel to Pride Park to face Derby on Saturday (8 March) while Norwich host Oxford at Carrow Road the evening before.