Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett

PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE PERFORMANCE REVIEW WEEK 8

Saturday 16 October

Watford v Liverpool RESULT 0-5
Referee: Jonathan Moss. Assistants: Marc Perry, Timothy Wood. Fourth official: Tony Harrington. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.

The game was dominated by Liverpool, who played some outstanding football against a lacklustre and disorganised Watford.

The goal of the match and contender for goal of the season was delivered by Mo Salah. His dribble past defenders and at one point stopping and putting his foot on the ball in the dribble was wonderful.

One piece to note was again another aspect of the offside law that should be changed was when Salah was in an offside position when the ball was passed to him. However, on its way towards Salah, the ball was touched by a defender who attempted to play it. This ruled out the offside. Whilst it was the correct interpretation of Law 11, it is one aspect of this law that is unacceptable.

Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers RESULT 2-3
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett. Fourth official: Mike Dean. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.

Another terrific performance from Referee Michael Oliver who adopted a low-key approach.

Aston Villa took a 2-0 lead and looked comfortable heading for a win and three points.

We then witnessed goals from Wolves in the 80th, 85th, and 95th minute Wolves scoring with almost the last kick of the game.

This West Midlands Derby will have left Villa Manager Dean Smith unhappy that his team switched off.

Leicester City v Manchester United RESULT 4-2
Referee: Craig Pawson. Assistants: Lee Betts, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Darren England. Assistant VAR: Eddie Smart.

If you are a Leicester fan, this was a very enjoyable game. The hosts found themselves on the right end of a win over a disjointed Manchester United.

Referee Pawson should not have allowed United’s Harry Maguire get away with wrapping his arms around an opponent and preventing their progress. A free kick should have been awarded.
However, he delivered one excellent piece of officiating when he witnessed a reckless challenge by United’s Wan Bissaka on City’s Castagne. He applied a terrific advantage that allowed the attack to continue resulting in Leicester City goal by Jamie Vardy.

Manchester City v Burnley RESULT 2-0
Referee: Martin Atkinson. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Peter Kirkup. Fourth official: Michael Salisbury. VAR: Andre Marriner. Assistant VAR: Matthew Wilkes.

This game was well-officiated by Martin Atkinson, however Burnley have cause for complaint with regard to the second goal by Manchester City. In the build up to the goal, there was a foul committed on the halfway line on a Burnley player that was ignored. VAR did a review but determined that it was not a clear and obvious error.

Norwich City v Brighton & Hove Albion RESULT 0-0
Referee: Peter Bankes. Assistants: Neil Davies, James Mainwaring. Fourth official: Tim Robinson. VAR: Graham Scott. Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.

Referee Peter Bankes delivered a solid performance in this goalless draw. It’s a result that will have pleased the home team manager, having gained a rare second point season to date.

Norwich are rooted to the bottom of the table whilst Brighton occupy fourth spot.

Southampton v Leeds United RESULT 1-0
Referee: David Coote. Assistants: Dan Cook, Nick Hopton. Fourth official: John Brooks. VAR: Lee Mason. Assistant VAR: Mark Scholes.

Leeds United are stumbling through the season and are finding it difficult due to a long list of injuries. They however cannot be faulted for effort and are playing their brand of highly-entertaining, high-energy game.

One goal separated the two teams. Southampton’s Armando Broja scoring on his first Premier League game.

Brentford v Chelsea RESULT 0-1
Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Simon Hooper. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.

Anthony Taylor delivered another top-class performance in an entertaining encounter. The match was won by the one goal from Chelsea, scored in the 45th minute by Chilwell. The win keeps Chelsea top of the league.

Sunday 17 October

Everton v West Ham United RESULT  0-1
Referee: Stuart Attwell. Assistants: Harry Lennard, Simon Long. Fourth official: Martin Atkinson. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Adam Nunn.

West Ham United opened the scoring after a disputed incident resulted in the correct award of a corner kick the ball coming off Pickford’s glove. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was unhappy feeling that he was fouled by Antonio in the challenge for the ball. From the corner kick the away team scored through Ogbonna in the 74th minute.

Referee Attwell possesses a very good dynamic sprint in his armoury and maintains good contact with play. Would on occasions like to see his undoubted level of fitness better used by squeezing and shortening the distance between referee and penalty area.

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur RESULT 2-3
Referee: Andre Marriner. Assistants: Richard West, Scott Ledger. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Chris Kavanagh. Assistant VAR: Dan Cook.

A terrific atmosphere greeted both teams has they entered the field for the start of this game. Newcastle United under new ownership could not have wished for a better start with Callum Wilson scoring in the second minute with a diving header.

Newcastle’s manager Steve Bruce was celebrating his 1000th game as a manager this on top of his 900 appearances as a player.

Harry Kane scored and a VAR check was made to determine if he was onside. The goal was rightly given.

There was an unusual stoppage in the game when the crowd and the players alerted Referee Marriner to a health issue of a spectator in the stands. Andre brought the players off to the side of the pitch has a member of the Newcastle medical staff sprinted across the pitch with defibrillator. After a short delay, the players were taken off down the tunnel.

The game eventually restarted with the seven-minute board going up and Kane scored Tottenham’s third goal in the fourth minute of added time.

In the second half there were times when Tottenham just played keep ball, leaving Newcastle chasing shadows.

Jonjo Shelvey correctly received a second yellow card followed by the red and no one can have any arguments about Andre Marriner’s decision. Sadly it was a poor performance by Newcastle United.

Andre Marriner to his credit maintained his concentration and you could not disagree with the sanctions that he applied.

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