VAR Could Have Cost Toon The Match

Last updated : 15 January 2018 By Footy Mad - Editor

Watford's Troy Deeney admitted his side got away with one in a 2-2 draw with Southampton, while Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal bemoaned the absence of VAR at Newcastle.

Image result for newcastle 1 swansea 1Abdoulaye Doucoure secured a 2-2 draw for the Hornets with a blatant handball in the final minute.

The French midfielder stooped to nod Deeney's header back across goal into the net - but the ball missed his head and he swept it home with his hand.

BBC pundit Martin Keown said Doucoure had "done a Maradona", and even Watford skipper Deeney admitted his side were fortunate.

The new VAR system has had a fairly gentle introduction in the past week, but it would have been the centre of attention at Vicarage Road.

"If VAR had come in we probably wouldn't get that but today we got it. It's the luck of the draw," Deeney told Sky Sports.

Saints manager Mauricio Pellegrino was remarkably restrained given the decision had cost his side a first Premier League win in 10 matches.

"My feeling is like the players, we are a little bit sad," he said.

"The last goal is something that surprised me because in the Premier League the level of referees is good. It's clear (handball).

"Everybody makes mistakes but the problem is at this level you have a lot to play for so we are disappointed.

"From the bench it is more difficult to see but the referee and the linesman are closer. I imagine the referee is not happy now."

A sheepish Marco Silva, the Watford boss, admitted: "I don't need to talk about the goal. I think everybody can see. It's something that can happen."

Carvalhal insisted Swansea would have been given a penalty and Mohamed Diame a red card within "10 seconds" if a video assistant referee had been in use at Newcastle.

The Premier League's bottom club emerged from their trip to St James' Park with a point after a 1-1 draw, but were aggrieved not to have left with all three having seen Diame block Mike van der Hoorn's goal-bound effort with his arm before the break.

Carvalhal said: "I can't say that is a penalty because of the place I was. I must be honest, I didn't see it - I said to the referee I didn't see it - but with the technology that we have at the moment, after one minute my assistant said it was a clear penalty and a red card.

"I am absolutely sure that would have been a red card and a penalty, absolutely sure. In 10 seconds, the video referee would give a communication saying, 'Stop, penalty and red card', I am absolutely sure."

The system was trialled in both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup last week and will be used in both competitions later this season, before the Premier League decide whether to bring it in fully.