Hackett Exclusive: Watford’s Sissoko red ‘inevitable’ as Burnley goal wrongly stood
Watford ace Moussa Sissoko endured a minute to forget as his side were beaten by Burnley, with Keith Hackett now giving his reaction to the midfielder’s two quickfire yellow cards.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider the midfielder needed to be calmed down by his teammate before receiving a second yellow after Burnley took the lead in the game.
Scott Parker saw his Clarets side edge another step closer to promotion to the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road on Friday (19 April).
However, they were given something of a helping hand by their hosts’ loss of discipline in that game, not least when Sissoko was shown two yellow cards in a matter of seconds with the ball not even in play.
Moussa Sissoko sent off as Burnley take the lead
It was Tom Cleverley‘s host who had actually taken the lead in this game through Mamadou Doumbia, with just eight minutes on the clock.
Burnley though would equalise just before half time courtesy of Zian Flemming, before going in front through a close range finish from potential Celtic transfer target Josh Brownhill.
Sissoko though was unhappy that the goal was not ruled out for a push by Flemming on Watford full-back Jeremy Ngakia in the build-up, and was booked by referee Matt Donohue for his protestations.
| Watford last five games | Result |
| Plymouth (H) | Drew 0-0 |
| Bristol City (A) | Lost 2-1 |
| Hull (H) | Won 1-0 |
| West Brom (A) | Lost 2-1 |
| Burnley (H) | Lost 2-1 |
Then, as the two teams lined up to kick off after that goal, Flemming could be seen nudging Sissoko as the Frenchman looked to steal a march into the Burnley half.
In response the Watford man pushed his opponent to the ground, leading to a flare up between both sets off players that saw Sissoko given a second yellow and red card.
Now, Hackett has stated that the second booking for the 35-year-old was “inevitable” for what he did, although he does have sympathy over the decision to award that goal in the first place, something the former official was “amazed” by.
‘Watford unlucky over Burnley winner that led to red card’ – Keith Hackett
After being asked by Football Insider what he made of those two yellow cards for Sissoko, and if Flemming had been trying to provoke a response to get him sent off, the former referee said:
“Firstly I was amazed that this goal was allowed after the Burnley player clearly pushes his opponent in what is a clear foul.
“[Sissoko] is clearly protesting about the push and I would have liked the referee to be more pro-active and move towards him and calm him down. If that does not work then yellow card his ongoing dissent.
“The player has lost his self control knowing that he had seen an injustice. I would have liked some intervention by his [teammates] to calm him down.
“Before the game restarts he is standing in the Burnley half and is pushed into his own half by a Burnley player who he pushes back and the Burnley player makes a meal of it. Second yellow card inevitable.“
That goal would prove to be enough to win the game for Burnley, who will secure promotion to the Premier League if they beat Sheffield United at Turf Moor on Monday (21 April).
Meanwhile, the Hornets would finish the game with nine men after Edo Kayembe was also shown two yellow cards, and they are now out of the race for the play-offs.
With that loss of two players not helping their cause, this may be another incident this season where Watford boss Tom Cleverley will have been left frustrated by his own group of players.