Willy Boly was unfortunate to be sent off for his challenge on Bernardo Silva. You must first consider that the Wolves defender won the ball before catching the Manchester City midfielder. That does not mean it is not a red card, of course. But Boly’s foot was low and he caught Silva on the ankle, not on the shin or higher. Willy Boly was dismissed by referee Craig Pawson for fouling Manchester City's Bernardo Silva With instances such as this where the player wins the ball and his follow-through catches the opponent, we are advised that above the ankle is red, below is yellow. Consider this: if Silva hurdles the challenge then Boly’s tackle is probably applauded. As it is, Silva gets there after the defender and is caught. But where can Boly put his foot after he wins the ball? Yes, Boly leaves himself open to more than a yellow because of the force, but for me this would have been a free-kick and a caution. As for City’s penalty, this was the correct call. Ryan Bennett tackles with his wrong foot and catches Raheem Sterling on the knee. Sterling is running at pace and the contact is consistent with his fall. Forget his reputation for diving, this is a penalty.<doc-sep>Willy Boly's red card against Man City tonight has ignited fierce debate online after people compared it to Vincent Kompany's yellow card tackle on Mohamed Salah. Bolly went in on Bernardo Silva hard, and while the Wolves defender got the ball he followed through on the Man City attacker, and received a red card for his troubles. Liverpool fans were quick to remind their Manchester rivals that Vincent Kompany only received a yellow for a very similar incident in Pep Guardiola's recent 2-1 over Jurgen Klopp's side Would love to know how that Boly challenge is in any way worse than Kompany's on Salah. — Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) January 14, 2019 Kompany on Salah - Yellow card. Boly on Bernardo Silva - Red card. Same stadium, very similar challenge, very different outcomes. #WOLMCI https://t.co/SAS2XE3O04 — Alex Richards (@AA_Richards) January 14, 2019 Advertisement Willy Boly would presumably have got away with that tackle had he been an all-round nice guy, so unlucky with injuries and a great captain — Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) January 14, 2019 Kompany makes a two footed challenge - Just a warning from the Manchester Born Referee Boly makes the same exact challenge - Red Card BUT REFEREES LOVE LIVERPOOL AND HAVE AN AGENDA MATE. #MCIWOL pic.twitter.com/KdBpJRt5mt — Dean Coombes (@DeanCoombes) January 14, 2019 How is that a red card for Boly but it wasn't a red for Kompany? Absolute shit consistency in this league for refereeing — LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) January 14, 2019 Advertisement How is that a red card for Boly but it wasn't a red for Kompany? Absolute shit consistency in this league for refereeing — LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) January 14, 2019 Someone please explain why Vincent Kompany was not given a Red Card for hisbtackle on Salah yet Boly straight Red ? ?‍♂️ — JateenLFC (@JateenLFC) January 14, 2019 Interesting - exactly the same tackle by Kompany v us but Boly sees red. And they say the FA want us to win it! I don’t think so. — Peeky (@Peekylad) January 14, 2019 Advertisement There is definitely a salty element to these Liverpool fans claims, though to be fair the incidents are very similar. Jamie Carragher seemed torn on whether it was a red for Boly, and seemed sympathetic to the Frenchman's situation: There's no way this is going to get overturned. 10, 15 years ago that's not even a foul. I don't know why he's gone in like that, side on, off the floor slightly. He doesn't catch him high, it catches him on the ankle. Yaya Toure cited Boly's excessive force as the main reason for the red, and there was an element that the defender went in far too hard than what was required. Going back to Kompany's tackle, what saved the Belgian was probably the amount of contact he made on Salah, with the Egyptian jumping out of the tackle. Silva, on the other hand, caught Boly's foot right on his ankle. Look at the points of impact. Kompany touched Salah's toes and was covered by Stones. pic.twitter.com/vHXuPJ1Pms — 27, Broke & Unmarried (@Sylv3r) January 14, 2019 Either way, with Virgil Van Dijk lucky to get away with a similar tackle against Napoli in the Champions League this season, perhaps Reds fans can admit that both teams have been lucky not to have their players sent off this season.<doc-sep>Wolves defender Willy Boly apologised to Bernardo Silva for the dangerous tackle which earned him an early red card in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. City cut the gap at the top of the Premier League back to four points as Gabriel Jesus scored twice before an own goal from Conor Coady wrapped up the points. But City's night was made straightforward by an early red for Boly, who was dismissed after 19 minutes for a sliding tackle which left Bernardo on the deck. Wolves defender Willy Boly received a straight red for a reckless challenge on Bernardo Silva 'It was quite a hard tackle but I am fine,' the Portuguese midfielder said after the match. 'Yes he did (apologise) at the end of the game. These things happen. 'You don't do it on purpose, I think, and he said that. Everything's fine. It's football.' Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo had no complaints about Craig Pawson's decision. 'It's very close to me and I think it's a red card,' he said. 'It's clear, you saw it. It's a red card.' City had already opened the scoring with a fine move - Aymeric Laporte splitting the defence with a ball down the channel for Leroy Sane, whose low cross was poked home by Gabriel Jesus. Boly actually won the ball first but he was out of control and clattered into the City midfielder And there was no doubt about the outcome thereafter, with Jesus converting from the spot after Raheem Sterling was brought down, while Coady got the last touch when substitute Kevin De Bruyne sent a wicked ball into the box with 12 minutes to go. That allowed City to keep the pressure on Liverpool in the title race. 'We cannot play the games against them,' City boss Pep Guardiola said. 'We cannot do anything about them. All we can do is win our games. We've spoken to our players, we cannot control what they do. 'We have to wait and if they fail we'll be there. If they don't lose they will be champions.' Wolves took a point off City at Molineux earlier this season and have a strong record against the top six, but once they went a man down their game plan went out of the window. 'We're sad, disappointed,' Nuno said. 'We started well, we conceded a goal we shouldn't have. Then the red card, you stay in the game but City with their speed...we have to be realistic. 'The only positive is to say it was an experience. It can happen, with one man less, the game still has something to offer. We knew it was tough, and it became harder.' The title race resumes next weekend, when City travel to newly managerless Huddersfield, while Liverpool host Crystal Palace. With Liverpool on 57 points from 22 games, a points tally in line with the record 100 City accrued last season may be required to win the title again, but Guardiola was not interested in setting targets. 'I don't have a magic ball to discover how many (points),' he said. 'I said to them 'don't watch the calendar for the Liverpool games, forget about it, then you lose your own games. Then it's over'. 'The best way is to look at the next game - Huddersfield, new manager, we must find a way to beat them. 'If Liverpool win then I will congratulate Jurgen (Klopp) because it will be well deserved. All we can do is win our games. You saw the incredible result they had. That's why I'm pleased with the game today.'<doc-sep>
Liverpool were hoping for a favour from Wolves when they travelled to Manchester City on Monday night but Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were unable to take any points away from the Etihad Stadium. The visitors fell to a 3-0 defeat, Gabriel Jesus’ brace and Conor Coady’s own goal helping Man City eat into Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table. Wolves’ task of getting anything out of the game became significantly tougher when, already trailing by a goal to nil, defender Willy Boly was sent off in the 19th minute. Referee Craig Pawson flashed his red card after the Frenchman lunged in on Bernardo Silva with his studs raised. Silva confirmed after the match that Boly apologised to him and Espirito Santo himself had no complaints about the decision. “I haven't seen the images but I've spoken with the fourth official,” the 44-year-old told Sky Sports. “It was a red card, no doubt about it.” Mark Clattenburg weighs in Espirito Santo will be interested to hear that former top flight official Mark Clattenburg doesn’t believe Boly deserved a red card. Boly’s foot was low and according to Clattenburg, his challenge only warranted a yellow card. “Willy Boly was unfortunate to be sent off for his challenge on Bernardo Silva,” Clattenburg told the Daily Mail. “You must first consider that the Wolves defender won the ball before catching the Manchester City midfielder. That does not mean it is not a red card, of course. “But Boly’s foot was low and he caught Silva on the ankle, not on the shin or higher. “With instances such as this where the player wins the ball and his follow-through catches the opponent, we are advised that above the ankle is red, below is yellow. “Consider this: if Silva hurdles the challenge then Boly’s tackle is probably applauded. As it is, Silva gets there after the defender and is caught. But where can Boly put his foot after he wins the ball? “Yes, Boly leaves himself open to more than a yellow because of the force, but for me this would have been a free-kick and a caution.” Wolves can probably feel hard done by, then. Teams need the rub of the green when they play at the Etihad but Wolves’ gameplan was ruined before they knew it. News Now - Sport News