Frank apologises to ref and Ivic – but Bees plan Pinnock appeal

Thomas Frank apologised to referee James Linington and his opposite number Vladimir Ivic for losing his cool during Brentford’s 1-1 draw at Watford.

The Bees boss was incensed by the red card shown to Ethan Pinnock for the foul on Ismaila Sarr which led to Watford’s penalty, and was also angered by Ivic’s complaints to the fourth official.

Speaking after the game, Frank said: “I am more calm now. Football is all about emotions from players, staff and fans.

“It means a lot to a lot of us and of course I have the best intentions, but sometimes it is not 100% possible (to keep emotions in check) like today for example.

“I was quite ‘passionate ‘ so I said to the ref after the game that I apologised for maybe being too tense. I think you have to be big enough to do that sometimes.

“If I look back at a situation and see that I was wrong I will apologise, but I also expect them to do the same.”

On his row with Ivic, he said: “Regarding the penalty situation, he tried to affect the ref.

“He is not the only one who tried to do that. I just said he should back off – but maybe not that politely!

“But after the game I went to him and apologised for that, but he was then showing some emotions.”

Frank had no real qualms with the penalty decision, but did dispute that it should have led to a red card – especially as Linington initially showed it to Mads Bech Sorensen, instead of Pinnock, by mistake.

“It is one of those where you could give a penalty, but not like 100% a penalty where you just take the player out, although I can understand why it was given,” he said.

“But that was not the thing that made me ‘passionate’ – that was the red card, for me you can’t do that in that situation, it is a triple punishment.

“I didn’t know they had given the red card to Mads in the beginning, but the decision made me lose it a bit as it was so wrong.”

Frank confirmed that the club would appeal against Pinnock’s red card.

If they lose the appeal, Sorensen and Charlie Goode could face Reading on Saturday, unless Pontus Jansson recovers from the “minor ankle issue” which kept him out of this game.

Frank added:  “Watford were in the Premier League last season but we destroyed them (in the first half). They didn’t have a sniff.

“We had three or four big chances and we were so much on top that we should be way out of sight.

“But we know we must take our chances and stay in the game – but the attitude from our players was crazy after that.”