Richard Keys and Andy Gray react to Everton footage v Brighton live on beIN Sports after controversy
Richard Keys and Andy Gray have given their verdict on the controversial decision to disallow a Lewis Dunk goal in the first half of the clash between Everton and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Dunk thumped home an impressive volley with his side trailing 1-0 to a goal from Vitaliy Mykolenko in Saturday’s (4 November) Premier League game at Goodison Park.
However, VAR intervened and the goal was chalked off by referee Tim Robinson for an offside infringement following a lengthy check.
Reacting to the decision at half-time of beIN Sports’ coverage of the game, presenter Keys said: “That’s a breathtaking finish.”
Gray also praised Dunk for scoring a goal “of the highest quality”, but Keys then asked if a disallowed goal of this nature should have been ruled out when the decision was as close as it was.
Former Everton player Gray said: “What I’d be saying to you as an Evertonian, say that had been given and we didn’t see forensic replays, I would have accepted that and so would have most football fans because it’s that close. But it’s a factual thing.”
Grateful
Brighton centre-back Dunk was denied what would surely have been the best goal of his career with this controversial call, having made the perfect connection with Pascal Gross’ free-kick delivery.
It was almost impossible to see any infringement in real time, and likewise when being shown multiple replays.
The officials gave the footage plenty of checks before referee Robinson awarded the decision in Everton’s favour.
Had VAR not been in use, it is fair to say Dunk’s goal would have stood because nobody would have spotted anything with the naked eye.
Everton supporters will just be grateful that a big decision went in their side’s favour after a few contentious decisions the opposite way of late.
As far as Everton’s defending for the disallowed goal goes, with Dunk being left completely unmarked, well the less said the better.
In other Everton news, former Premier League referee Mike Dean also gave his opinion on the disallowed goal.