Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE PERFORMANCE REVIEW WEEK 25
FRIDAY 19TH FEBRUARY
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS V LEEDS UNITED Result 1-0
Referee: David Coote. Assistants: Nick Hopton, James Mainwaring. Fourth official: Darren England. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Gary Beswick.
The home team secured a win but not without controversy. Leeds striker Patrick Bamford scored a goal, only to have it ruled out by a nonsense VAR offside decision.
Sadly, the game is being ruined by these so tight decisions. The PGMOL should think seriously about binning the use of these lines until the technology operates similar to Goal Line Technology
SATURDAY 20TH FEBRUARY
SOUTHAMPTON V CHELSEA Result 1-1
Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Simon Long, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Simon Hooper. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Gary Beswick.
The first shot on goal by either team came in the 29th minute. With the high number of games fatigue is beginning to show,
Southampton’s Minamino opened the scoring against the run of play.
Referee Taylor was in a great position to detect the foul and correctly award a penalty kick for Chelsea. Mount scoring for the away team.
A comfortable performance by Referee Taylor.
BURNLEY V WEST BROMWICH ALBION Result 0-0
Referee: Mike Dean. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Mark Scholes. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan.
I think that the last thing Referee Mike Dean would have wanted was to have to review an incident on the pitchside monitor to judge a red card offence. This was after his last two red cards were correctly overturned by the review panel after appeals.
The red card came in the first half of the game. Burnley were on the attack and West Brom’s Ajayi was sent off after a VAR intervention and a review by Referee Dean.
It was a clear handball offence and Dean had to then determine if the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity had taken place.
He must consider the following:
• Distance between the offence and goal
• General direction of play
• Likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball.
• Location and number of defenders
Having taken the above into account you have to support his view and the dismissal.
At the start of the second half, West Bromwich Albion Captain controlled a header by Conor Townsend with an outstretched arm inside his own penalty area.
It is really difficult to understand why this was missed by the referee and the VAR Michael Oliver. Burnley can count themselves very unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty kick.
LIVERPOOL V EVERTON Result 0-2
Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Assistants: Dan Cook, Sian Massey-Ellis. Fourth official: Paul Tierney. VAR: Andre Marriner. Assistant VAR: Derek Eaton.
Richarlison of Everton opened the scoring, opening up the opportunity for his team to win at Anfield since 1999. Pickford made a terrific save after a dribble and shot from Mo Salah.
Referee Kavanagh pointed to the penalty mark to award Everton a penalty kick. Trent Alexander-Arnold was fortunate that he did not receive a red card for the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Sigurdsson scored Everton’s second from the penalty mark.
FULHAM V SHEFFIELD UNITED Result 1-0
Referee: Martin Atkinson. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Peter Kirkup. Fourth official: Gavin Ward. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday.
Both these teams are struggling. Fulham ran out the winners in a poor game.
Sheffield United were unlucky not to get a penalty kick after the Fulham goalkeeper had brought down one of their forwards. VAR did not intervene on the basis that he did not feel that a clear and obvious error had been made by the referee.
SUNDAY 21ST FEBRUARY
WEST HAM UNITED V TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Result 2-1
Referee: Craig Pawson. Assistants: Harry Lennard, Richard West. Fourth official: Graham Scott. VAR: Darren England. Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday.
The home team are much better organised under Manager David Moyes and deserved their win.
ASTON VILLA V LEICESTER CITY Result 1-2
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett. Fourth official: Robert Jones. VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday.
Leicester City took a grip on this game with two quick goals, Maddison scoring the first and an alert Barnes grabbing the second.
Aston Villa’s Traore pulled one back but it was a comfortable win for the away team.
ARSENAL V MANCHESTER CITY Result 0-1
Referee: Jonathan Moss. Assistants: Marc Perry, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood.
A good win for Manchester City who are in fine form this result giving them 18 wins in succession. Sterling’s winning goal came from a header after he leapt well to score.
Referee Moss delivered a good performance by allowing the game to flow.
MANCHESTER UNITED V NEWCASTLE UNITED Result 3-1
Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Lee Betts, Neil Davies. Fourth official: Lee Mason. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.
Rashford opened the scoring for the home team after his shot found a gap between the near post and a diving goalkeeper. It’s really good to see Referee Tierney apply a good sprint to be positioned near the edge of the penalty area to ensure a good viewing position monitoring the run and any possible challenge.
Newcastle United levelled the score after a couple of good saves by the home team goalkeeper who was in good form. Poor defending from the visitors then let Manchester United score a second.
Referee Tierney who had a very good game was ideally positioned to award a penalty kick for Manchester United which was scored by Fernandes.
MONDAY 22ND FEBRUARY
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION V CRYSTAL PALACE
Referee: Kevin Friend. Assistants: Simon Beck, Eddie Smart. Fourth official: Keith Stroud. VAR: Simon Hooper. Assistant VAR: Mark Scholes.
TUESDAY 23RD FEBRUARY
LEEDS UNITED V SOUTHAMPTON
Referee: Andre Marriner. Assistants: Scott Ledger, Adrian Holmes. Fourth official: Robert Jones. VAR: Kevin Friend. Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.
About Author
