Jonesy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

When Sam Allardyce took Bolton to Ipswich for the second leg of their First Division play-off semi-final in May 2000, he was 90 minutes away from reaching Wembley in his first season as manager. The first leg had finished 2-2, and Bolton were desperate to get back into the Premier League after being relegated two years earlier. Bolton got off to the perfect start when Dean Holdsworth scored after six minutes, putting them ahead in the tie. Ipswich equalised from the penalty spot through Jim Magilton, but Holdsworth scored again to restore Bolton’s lead. That was when the trouble with referee Barry Knight really started. He awarded Ipswich another penalty after Marcus Stewart went down under a challenge from Paul Ritchie. Bolton’s players surrounded the referee, furious with the decision, although Jussi Jaaskelainen managed to save Magilton’s spot-kick. Ipswich equalised shortly after half-time, but Allan Johnston immediately put Bolton back in front with a brilliant strike. With the game heading towards the final whistle, Bolton were still going through. But Magilton scored in the 90th minute to make it 3-3, and things quickly got worse for Allardyce. Mike Whitlow was sent off, leaving Bolton to play extra time with ten men. Knight awarded Ipswich a third penalty, which Jamie Clapham converted, before Robbie Elliott was also dismissed for a second booking. Bolton were down to nine men, and Martijn Reuser eventually made it 5-3 to Ipswich. By the final whistle, Knight had awarded Ipswich three penalties, sent off two Bolton players and shown ten yellow cards to Bolton without booking a single Ipswich player. Allardyce could barely believe what he had watched. He went straight onto television and made his feelings clear about the referee. “He should be made accountable for what he’s done.” “I don’t think he should ever be allowed to referee a game again.” “The worst refereeing performance in the history of football.” He was convinced Knight had cost Bolton their chance of promotion. “Barry Knight lost it, completely lost it.” His comments did not go down particularly well with the Football Association. He was charged over his television interview and summoned to an FA disciplinary hearing. But rather than simply apologise for what he had said, Allardyce decided to bring some evidence with him. He had put together an edited video of Knight’s decisions from the Ipswich game. “When I was hauled in front of a tribunal for what I’d said on TV, I presented an edited video for my defence.” And he made the panel sit through the incidents that had left him so furious. “You could see how embarrassed the tribunal was by his performance.” Despite that, Allardyce was still fined by the FA over the affair. Bolton missed out on promotion, while Ipswich went on to beat Barnsley at Wembley and reach the Premier League. Five years later, he was asked whether he still held a grudge against Barry Knight. “Do I still hold a grudge?” “Yes I f****** do.” #football