Garth Crooks believes Ryan Bertrand was wrongly sent off in Southampton’s 9-0 humiliation

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There has been little to no sympathy for the Southampton players since Friday night’s humiliation against Leicester City. The Saints lost 9-0 at home against a rampant Foxes with the Southampton players barely putting up a fight in an insipid display. 

The result has left Ralph Hasenhuttl’s position in doubt, Southampton’s goal difference decimated and confidence among the players must be at an all-time low. 

Of course, there was a major turning point in the game. Ryan Bertrand’s red card came after a VAR review after Leicester had actually scored from the same pattern of play. 

On the whole, the referee’s decision has largely been praised by neutrals, but the Southampton defender now has a rare supporter. 

Garth Crooks, writing in his BBC Sport column, seems to believe it was a harsh decision. 

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“I thought at the time the sending-off Ryan Bertrand was a harsh decision but when I discovered Mike ‘clever clogs’ Dean was behind VAR in the Southampton versus Leicester fixture I wasn’t surprised…Anyone who has played football at any level, and especially in the conditions both teams had to contend with, would have made allowances for the players…

“Quite apart from destroying what would have been a perfectly good contest for the viewing public, he’s instigated huge embarrassment to the club, its players and put a manager’s career on skid row – all on a whim.”

TBR’s View

Even the most ardent Southampton supporter will find it hard to agree with Crooks. 

Bertrand’s challenge was reckless, dangerous and high. It was clearly a red card, regardless of whether Leicester went on to score or not. 

It seems this is more a case of Crooks continuing his dislike for the VAR official on the night Mike Dean rather than a genuine belief that Bertrand should have been spared red. 

As for ruining the game, Southampton’s players never looked up for this match and, 10-men or not, they were not going to fare well against Leicester in this mood. 

The margin may have been significantly less, but it is hard to suggest that the red card would have changed the result considering the level of display from several Southampton players.