Plymouth boss claims Middlesbrough’s ‘constant appealing’ led to the controversial 93rd-minute penalty decision on Good Friday.
Tommy Conway’s spot kick secured a crucial win for Middlesbrough, keeping their Championship playoff hopes alive.
The spot-kick, awarded after Joe Edwards pushed Tommy Conway in the back in the penalty area, and was sent off, moved Boro to 7th, three points behind Coventry.
The contact was fairly minimal, however, Anthony Backhouse still deemed the offence to be both a penalty and a straight red card.
It’s a blow to Plymouth, edging closer to relegation, but are still three points behind Derby with a worse goal difference and only three games left.
This slow mo shows how poor that decision was. Yes Edwards puts his hand on his back but look at how Conway reacts he has to adjust to exploit it. Awful decision. #pafc #argyle pic.twitter.com/jiUBc8Y7Dl
— The Crazy Pilgrim
PAFC (@TheCrazyPilgrim) April 18, 2025
You have to feel for Plymouth fans. It’s a 750 mile round trip to Middlesbrough those fans will be making, and they lost to a 92nd minute penalty for this…
Shocking decision!
pic.twitter.com/C1htZTPWn0
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) April 18, 2025
Muslic said, per Northern Echo: “We got Middlesbrough frustrated, and they were asking four or five times for a penalty.
“I don’t think you can react as a referee to that. Even if they fall to the ground ten times, if it is not a penalty, it is not a penalty.
“But to come up with such a big decision, and give a straight red card to Joe (Edwards), it is really tough.
“We can’t take it back. There is no VAR around to check. I think the lads played a brilliant game. Everything we prepared before we actually delivered and we did it. We knew the quality of Middlesbrough.
“Very strong in possession, very strong offensively, capable to break the lines easily. Very, very tight and players always inside the pockets.
“We did it actually very well and kept consistently our transition threat. Creating so many goal scoring opportunities. I think we had today five or six big, big ones. Shows just the strong performance we have or we had.
“And then losing this game or losing this very much deserved point with a 94 minute penalty. Yeah, it hurts.”
Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
“The games are going to flip at times and the picture is going to change quite quickly, but I thought we deserved it.
“We kept going – it’s not easy when you have to break teams down all the time. I thought we created enough to score but it’s worth the wait. The late ones are the best.
“Great composure from Tommy to take that penalty at the end under the circumstances and it’s a big result for us.
“When you get to the end and there’s a lot at stake, there are going to be moments and it’s whether we can seize them really. Today was for Tommy really.”
Carrick, per Sky Sports:
“It was a massive goal. It keeps us moving. Things can change rapidly, and even in that last few minutes with our goal the picture changed again.
“I don’t know how the other results went in terms of when goals were scored – when we’re in the thick of it we don’t take notice of that – but we were in it to win it today. We knew we needed to take the points, and although it was late it was worth it.
“It was one of those games we keep talking about at the end of the season where things can happen. We put ourselves in a great position, scored a really good goal and played some good football, but then we made a mistake and gave them a lifeline in the game.
“They were always dangerous, the way they play with counters and transitions, but the boys kept going. It’s not easy but you’ve got to keep believing. In the end, we found a way through.”
Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic told BBC Radio Devon:
“It feels heavy. The lads played a brilliant game.
“Everything we prepared before, we actually delivered. We knew the threat of Middlesbrough – very strong in possession, very strong offensively, but we did it very well and consistently kept our transition threat, creating so many goalscoring opportunities.
“That shows the strong performance we had. And losing this very much deserved point we had with a 93rd-minute penalty, it hurts.
“We have to go again – there is nothing to regret after that 100 minutes. We gave it all.”
Muslic, per Sky Sports:
“It feels heavy right now.
“I think the lads played a brilliant game. Everything we prepared before, we delivered. We knew the quality of Middlesbrough, they are very strong in possession and very strong offensively.
“We dealt with them very well and created so many goalscoring opportunities. We had five or six big ones and that just shows how well we did. Losing this game, and losing this point with such a late penalty, it hurts.”
Twitter users reacted after the Plymouth boss claims Middlesbrough’s ‘constant appealing’ led to the controversial penalty decision…
@argyle_analyst: I think the one thing about this slow-mo that doesn’t help Edwards is you can see the push and how it unbalances Conway. I agree he throws himself to the ground – as most players would – but equally I can see how you could be unbalanced if someone pushed you right then
@PaulHoy180: Story of the refs in the EFL…. Absolutely shocking. assistants aswell. Something needs to be done. but they will put a prem ref on…. even worse not even demoted for a mistake in the PL @refsupportuk
@woodwardio79: Absolutely Shocking decision, and this is coming from a rams fan, so it did us a huge favour. Am I surprised by it…. not one bit!!! The officiating in the championship is truly horrific.
@AaronLagan: Watching it in real time it looked like a pen but it looks very very very soft watching that. I think you boys played ok today, we have played a lot worse teams this season, had plenty of chance just didn’t put them away. Good luck for the last 3 games
@leexpalmer1: But why has Edwards put his hand on and then given the ref the decision to make? It’s not a pen but you can see why ref gave it
@StozUTB: People are forgetting that this didn’t occur with both standing still. Conway is running at speed and is off his feet trying to get a shot off and even a slight bump will send anyone flying. Can tell the exact time he lost his balance due to the push 
Red Card? No. Penna? Yes
@SteveDyke1993:
1. The hand starts outside the box.
2. Never a pen as soft as fuck.
3. Thought it was EITHER a red OR a pen? Not both?
Officiating is such a joke nowadays.
@capfc11: Unfortunately the ref doesn’t see in slow motion. He pushes him at the exact moment where both feet are just off the floor so easy to see why he’s gone over. Yes it’s very soft but you have to ask why push him in the first place if the intention isn’t to unbalance him
@LukeIbby: I care about neither team, but a push in the back when you’re nowhere near attempting for the ball just as a player is shooting is never not going to be a foul…
@kieranstead95: Pen all day lad, a slight push like that why running at speed is more than enough to knocked you off balance
@RobSc0tt: I didn’t think it was a pen until I saw this. Exaggerated fall, 100%. But you can clearly see the push knock Conway off balance. Well played, Ref 
@smoggyparmo: He pushed him in the back
HAVE YOUR SAY –
Harsh to show a red card and award a penalty? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or tweet us @fan_banter
This is a staggering decision. Was the decision not to give the penalty for the earlier challenge on Whittaker playing on the referee’s mind?
Also, any contact began outside the box… https://t.co/QqOkihGRz7 pic.twitter.com/hwsNjyc5V5
— Richard Amofa (@RichardAmofa) April 18, 2025
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