RICH PICKINGS
Even Micah Richards admits Man City were lucky to be awarded last-gasp winner vs Wolves as fans fume at ‘robbery’
The Prem have released a statement explaining the decision
MICAH RICHARDS has admitted Manchester City were lucky to see their last-gasp winner against Wolves count.
There was major controversy in the 95th minute when John Stones powered in a header from a corner to put the champions 2-1 up.
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But as the centre-back ran away celebrating, the officials decided to chalk off the goal offside due to Bernardo Silva's interference.
He was judged to have been impeding Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa as the ball travelled into the box.
The stopper pushed him away and by the time Stones headed the ball, Silva had moved clear of Sa and ducked out the way.
But following a VAR review, the referees decided the goal should stand because the City star was no longer in the way of the Wolves No1 as the ball travelled towards goal.
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An on-field review saw Chris Kavanagh go over to the monitor and then award the goal.
There was huge complaints from the Wolves players, who remain bottom of the table with just one point after the defeat.
And City cult hero and Sky Sports pundit Richards admitted his old club were fortunate to pick up all three points.
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He said: "I would like to see the goal given for this because I do not think there is too much contact.
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"But the fact of the matter is that he is still in the keeper's way so it has affected the play.
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"I think we go back the word 'consistency'. I have seen them given and I have sometimes not.
"It is just that nudge that sends him [Sa] off balance and then he is not set, so I understand why Wolves feel aggrieved in this particular moment."
Fellow pundit Daniel Sturridge added: "That used to be my role to be fair and Bernardo has played it perfectly.
"As the header has gone into the back of the net, he is off the goalkeeper.
But the fact of the matter is that he is still in the keeper's way so it has affected the play
Micah Richards
"So it's almost like 'I've done my job guys, but I have not impacted him'.
"But for me, I do believe he has impacted the goalkeeper, slightly, if I am being honest.
"He has had to push him away and then go back on his line to set himself."
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil seemed to suggest Premier League match officials have a subconscious bias towards Manchester City and other big clubs.
"There's no chance that people are purposely against Wolves," said O'Neil, who saw his side have a goal chalked off in similar circumstances against West Ham last season.
"But is there something in the subconscious around decision-making or, without even knowing it, are you more likely to give it to Manchester City than Wolves?
"My focus and my senses are heightened when we're facing Man City and Pep (Guardiola) and (Erling) Haaland. Are the officials the same, when it's Haaland and when it's Manchester City?
"Is there something in there that influences decision-making? And I've spoken to them about this as well, and they obviously guarantee me there isn't. They are human.
"But Manchester City scoring a last-minute winner is a big thing. It's a bigger thing than Wolves scoring a last-minute goal against West Ham. So maybe there's something subconsciously that means that you are less likely to get them.
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"I might be miles off, but if I had to upset someone in a street and there was a little guy and a big guy, I'm upsetting a little guy. Nothing against little guys.
"But there is something in there and they definitely don't do it on purpose. I know they're 100 per cent honest, and they're doing the best job they can, and I respect them fully.
"But maybe there's something that just edges it in that direction when it's really tight."
City boss Pep Guardiola had less to say on the incident, other than stating Jose Sa's vision was not impacted when Stones made contact with the ball, which echoed the Premier League's explanation.
Guardiola said: "At the moment the linesman raised the flag, I said, 'It's a corner, how can it be offside?'.
"The situation, at the moment of the impact from John, Sa is watching perfectly the actions so it's well-given."
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The Premier League released a statement trying to clear up the controversy and it read: "Stones’ goal was disallowed on-field due to Bernardo Silva being in an offside position and in the goalkeeper’s line of vision.
"The VAR deemed Bernardo Silva wasn’t in the line of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper and recommended an on-field review.
"The referee overturned his original decision and a goal was awarded."
Fans are split over the decision, with one saying: "Wolves robbed."
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Another added: "He’s stood offside in front of keepers eye-line, and actually nudges him yeah it would be harsh but that is offside all day long."
But others felt it was the correct call, commenting: "Nothing wrong with this goal in the slightest, why is everyone kicking off?"
Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25
NOTHING stays the same forever.
And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.
Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.
Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.
There's also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the 'multiball' system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides - but not straight away.
Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.
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