Wolves fell to another defeat in the Premier League on Saturday, losing to Bournemouth – and Nelson Semedo picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.
Wolves were beaten by the Cherries, who scored three of their goals from the penalty spot after more awful defending from Gary O’Neil’s side.
Justin Kluivert scored all three of his spot-kicks, with Milos Kerkez also on target.
Jorgen Strand Larsen scored a brace for Wolves but, not for the first time this season, his efforts went to wasted as Wolves gifted their opponents goals.
It’s a quick turnaround for Wanderers now with Everton up next on Wednesday.
But one man who won’t be featuring is Nelson Semedo, who picked up a fifth yellow card against Bournemouth, and the reason he got it will leave O’Neil very annoyed.
Nelson Semedo explains confusion over yellow card vs Bournemouth
Semedo has been walking a tightrope since the game with Manchester City on October 20.
There was always a fairly strong chance that this one-game ban would come given Semedo does like to get stuck in.
But his yellow card on Saturday actually came about because referee Peter Bankes thought Semedo had sarcastically clapped him when he gave the first penalty for a foul by Toti Gomes on Evanilson.
He pointed to the spot, but Semedo says he thought a goal kick had been given – and so he applauded the decision, only to then get booked.
He said (via Wolves official): “It was not in my mind, to be honest. The way I got the yellow card, I was really mad with the referee, because I thought it was a goal kick, so I was just clapping for his decision, and suddenly he took the yellow card, and he gave me the yellow card, and didn’t even let me try to explain to him.
“I knew I already had a yellow card and that wouldn’t change, but I wanted to say to him that that’s not me. I’m not clapping because he said it’s a penalty, I just thought it was a goal kick. I’m not that kind of kind of player, and I know I’m on four yellow cards, so I’m not going to do that.”
O’Neil must be so annoyed over Semedo suspension
This misunderstanding is extremely annoying, and one that O’Neil – who’s been rightly critical of officiating standards since he came to Wolves – will be livid about.
It’s something that just didn’t need to happen. It’d almost be easier for the Wolves manager to accept if Semedo had just made a cynical foul on a Bournemouth player.
But he’s now lost a player he rates really highly for the game against Everton in rather ridiculous circumstances.
| Other Wolves players in danger of a one-game ban |
| Toti Gomes, Joao Gomes, Rayan Ait-Nouri – 4 (one yellow away) |
| Mario Lemina – 3 (two yellows away) |
We all know what he thinks about £29 million man Semedo.
In the summer, O’Neil said he was ‘desperate’ to keep Semedo at Wolves, amid speculation he could move on.
The Portuguese has been a mainstay in the team for years now at Molineux and last term, Semedo had his best season at Wolves to date.
To not have him for the Everton game is frustrating, but hopefully one of Matt Doherty or Pedro Lima will step up in his absence.
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