West Brom were denied a stoppage-time winner at the weekend as a contentious offside ruling disallowed Callum Robinson’s late goal.
West Brom failed to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Championship as they could only muster a point this past Saturday at home to play-off hopefuls Nottingham Forest, who currently sit in fifth place in the Championship table. Meanwhile, their main title rivals Leeds picked up an important three points versus Bristol City.
The Baggies stretched their lead over second-placed Leeds United to six points last Wednesday as they beat Reading a day after Leeds dropped points away to Brentford. However, this weekend, West Brom’s lead was cut back to four points.
The home side had a 2-1 lead going into stoppage time, however, a 91st-minute Matthew Cash goal delivered a late blow to the elated West Brom faithful. The late drama didn’t stop there as West Brom’s Callum Robinson subsequently put the ball over the line once more for the hosts before the game was finished. However, that final goal was subsequently ruled out due to a controversial offside ruling.
Should West Brom's late winner have counted?
YES, WEST BROM WERE HARD DONE BY A POOR REFEREEING DECISION
NO, THE REFEREEING WAS SPOT ON, THE GOAL WAS CORRECTLY DISALLOWED
Some West Brom fans were displeased and vented their frustration regarding the controversial disallowed goal on social media following Saturday’s game. Read some of the unhappy replies of some West Brom fans to Saturday’s contentious refereeing decision in the tweets below.
Will try to find out what the score is with Hawkeye. Definitely had it at The Hawthorns earlier this season. It awarded an Ajayi goal, I think. #WBA #WBAFC
— Steve Madeley (@SteveMadeley78) February 15, 2020
Clearly over the line according to sky…hit Bartley after crossing the line. Should have stood.
— PJ (@PJSoulboy) February 15, 2020
Woeful call by the assistant to award offside when the lad is on the floor and the ball goes in with zero interference. No doubt the FA will look at it and decide to ban one of our players for 3 games.
— Colin Griffiths (@Pengadil) February 15, 2020
The standard of the referring is very poor both ways today
— David stubbs (@stubbo22_) February 15, 2020
Bartley given offside. Wrongly.
— Rachel (@PsueDenim) February 15, 2020
Was over the line
— Mark baggies beckett (@markloutaylor) February 15, 2020
Goal line technology gave the goal, but apparently he’s offside even though he’s not affected play
— Dan Chaloner (@WbaDan3) February 15, 2020
The player is behind the goal line when it hits him ????
— Simon (@BeefyBaggie1965) February 15, 2020
What do we think?
Though Robinson’s last-gasp winner may not have struck offside offender Kyle Bartley until the ball was ‘over the line’, it’s very much arguable that Bartley’s positioning impeded the Nottingham Forest defender Tobias Figueiredo, ultimately resulting in the offside call being made.
According to the FA, “a player moving from, or standing in, an offside position is in the way of an opponent and interferes with the movement of the opponent towards the ball this is an offside offence if it impacts on the ability of the opponent to play or challenge for the ball.” By this definition, it may be fair to claim that West Brom’s winner was rightfully ruled out for offside.