Jonas Eidevall accused of 'bullying' fourth official by Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor after Arsenal win
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ByOli Gent
Published 05/11/2023 at 19:55 GMT
Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor has accused Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall of "bullying" the fourth official during their Women's Super League match on Sunday. Arsenal won a tense encounter 2-1 at Meadow Park, with Stina Blackstenius profiting from an error by Khiara Keating to score an 87th-minute winner. Steph Catley opened the scoring for the hosts, before Chloe Kelly equalised.
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Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor has accused Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall of "bullying" the fourth official during their Women's Super League match, which The Gunners won 2-1 at Meadow Park to end City's unbeaten start to the WSL season.
Taylor and Eidevall clashed in the technical areas numerous times throughout the game as tempers flared, with the City boss claiming that he was "protecting" Melissa Burgin, the fourth official, from his opposite number.
Speaking to the BBC, Taylor said: "That is always the same with him because he is constantly at the fourth official and I think it is bullying. I am protecting the fourth official but that's not my job."
Commenting on the result, Taylor said: "I think everyone who saw that game could see we should have won. We are feeling a little bit robbed."
With the narrow victory, Eidevall's Arsenal pulled themselves level on points with Taylor's City. Four sides, ranging from City in second to Arsenal in fifth, are tied on 10 points.
Substitute Stina Blackstenius scored a late winner three minutes from time to snatch the points for Arsenal, who had opened the scoring 14 minutes into the encounter through Steph Catley.
Chloe Kelly equalised for the visitors with a low effort that beat Manuel Zinsberger in the home goal, but it was Blackstenius, the Swedish forward, who won it for the hosts as Khiara Keating, the Man City goalkeeper, misjudged a punted ball forwards, with Blackstenius accepting the gift.
With that mistake, 19-year-old Keating had turned from hero to villain, having saved a Kim Little penalty after the Citizens shot-stopper was adjudged to have felled Cloe Lacasse.
"It's a similar story to last season," Taylor said. "We created a lot of chances and we've got to be better at the top end of the pitch.
"The performance was very good. We dominated and there was a point when I thought they were out on their feet and there was only one team that was going to win.
"Keating will be okay. It's part and parcel of football. I've said to you guys [there might] be a moment when she'll make a mistake, and this won't be the last one.
"It's the same for all players but she's done so many good things and she will continue to be great. I think it's unfortunate, but it's all good learning for her. That makes you as a player. She'll come through it and we'll support her in the right way."
Arsenal manager Eidevall told the BBC post-match: "The first 15 minutes stressed me out. I don't think anyone planned to lose the ball in the way we did. So no, it didn't go to plan. I'm happy the players could cope.
"I was a little surprised before the game because it was like we were being portrayed as the underdogs. In my experience here, we won three times out of three while I've been manager against Manchester City. I think that's a very strong record against Manchester City.
"So no, it didn't go to plan. I'm happy the players could cope. We spoke a lot about having a holistic performance.
"We said [tactics] was one part of football but it is also running, duelling, fighting for inches and football is about having mental strength - when you fail once to try again next time.
"In order to beat a team like Manchester City you needed to do both - and we did. We weren't perfect in any of them but I think we were good enough in both of them."
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