Western Sydney not happy with referee Jarred Gillett

Western Sydney have sought clarification over a number of contentious decisions in their 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory.

Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic remonstrates with referee Jarred Gillett on Saturday night. Picture: George Salpigtidis.

Western Sydney have sought clarification over a number of contentious decisions during the 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory on ­Saturday night amid concerns over their poor recent record under referee Jarred Gillett.

While the club refused to comment yesterday, The Australian understands the Wanderers lodged a complaint immediately after the match. Club officials are said to be ropeable on a number of fronts, including their team’s record under Gillett.

Coach Tony Popovic was a clearly unhappy man after his team was denied a clear-cut penalty early in the second half that he claims was a game changer.

With Victory leading 1-0, fullback Jason Geria fouled Wan­derers Japanese star Jumpei Kusu­kami inside the area. However, Gillett waved play on and awarded a goal kick instead, much to the anger and frustration of the Wanderers players. There were also doubts about Victory’s second goal, with claims substitute Jai Ingham had headed the ball on to his arm before it went into the goal.

But it was the non-penalty ­decision that angered Popovic, who was also quick to point to his team’s past results under Gillett.

“I don’t think we’ll see a clearer one (penalty) this season,” Popo­vic told Fox Sports after the match. “Maybe it’s a coincidence, but we’ve won one out of 11 with Jarred ­Gillett as a ref. I’m sure he’ll come and explain himself.”

Popovic was just as agitated in the official post-match press conference. “That was a clear penalty and you will not see a clearer one in the A-League this season,” he said. “The game changes (on that decision). They catch us on the break and get a second.

“If that’s not a penalty then he (Gillett) should book him (Kusukami) for diving. He has given a goal kick, so what has Jumpei done? We have to move on. They’ll (referees bosses) explain themselves and move on as well and we will do what we can do better and, hopefully, they will as well.”

While Popovic didn’t mention Gillett’s record during the press conference, it is clear he believes there is some sort of issue.

Gillett has refereed the Wanderers 17 times since they came into the A-League in the 2012-13 season. Interestingly, Western Sydney were unbeaten in their first six games under him — five wins and a draw.

But their record since then is appalling — 11 games for just one win, which came against Adelaide United on April 18, 2015, in a round-26 match. The Wanderers have now lost their past three games under Gillett — last season’s grand final against Adelaide (3-1), the Derby against Sydney FC (4-0) in round one and Saturday night’s match.

While the Wanderers have now gone four straight games without a win, Popovic says there “won’t be a dent in confidence or belief” among the players.

“There are many positives in regards to our football,” he said. “We will look at our performances and will see lot of fantastic things. We just need to tighten up in some areas.”

The Wanderers look good in attack and are playing some attractive football, but they lack a cutting edge up front and defensively they are making too many costly mistakes.

For Victory, this was the result they needed after last week’s controversial 2-1 loss to Sydney FC when they were hard done by after Sydney were awarded a goal that should have been denied for hand ball. They got some luck back on Saturday night.

“It’s a funny game, isn’t it,” Victory coach Kevin Muscat said. “The performance last week was far better than tonight but we lose to Sydney and win 3-0 tonight. You can go mad trying to work it out, but I’ll give it a good go.”