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Michael Owen shares verdict on controversy in Leeds United 4-2 win v Wolves
Michael Owen expects there to be debate over Leeds United’s fourth goal in the win over Wolves, but admits he doesn’t see a problem with it.
The Whites claimed all three points at Molineux thanks to goals from Jack Harrison, Luke Ayling, Rasmus Kristensen and Rodrigo, but it was the Spaniard’s goal in the 97th minute that has attracted plenty of criticism from the hosts.
Adama Traore had his shirt pulled in the build-up by Crysencio Summerville, but a foul wasn’t given and the Dutch winger played the ball to Rodrigo who finished beautifully. The referee was sent to the VAR screen to review the decision, but stuck to his guns and gave the goal, but Owen says he’s entitled to make that call.
“I think there will be debate about the foul, for the fourth goal,” he told Premier League Productions Match Day Extra (19 March).
“There is definitely a shirt pull. Whether or not it’s enough – the referee has gone to the screen, he has been able to see the shirt pull, but he has probably thought ‘you know what it’s not enough’.
“I have got no huge problem with that.”
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Correct
It’s now become an expectancy that when the referee is sent to the VAR screen that he will change his decision, but on this occasion the referee did exactly what people want them to do.
There was a pull on Traore, that much is certain, but was it really enough to impede him? He even goes in for the challenge moments later, but when he doesn’t win the ball there he waves his hands and complains instead of playing on.
Football is a contact sport and players are constantly criticised for going down too easily or making the most out of contact instead of playing to the whistle and on this occasion it’s cost Wolves.
We can understand why their manager may be angry, but he should be madder at his players all stopping with the ball on the halfway line instead of playing to the whistle.
Owen is spot on. Had a foul been given there would have been no complaints, but it wasn’t and that also isn’t a clear and obvious error, so well done to the ref on this occasion.
In other Leeds news, loanee hailed as “heroic” for what he did in major European derby live on BT Sport.
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