Ashley Williams reacts to Sunderland complaints over controversial Brighton winner
Ashley Williams believes Brighton’s bizarre goal against Sunderland was right to have stood in their 1-0 win on Tyneside.
Sunderland fell to their third home defeat in a row on Saturday thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s controversial 58th-minute winner.
The Gambia winger didn’t know much about it but found the net from a very tight angle at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland were furious that play had been allowed to continue after Habib Diarra fell to the floor after a coming together with Brighton’s Lewis Dunk.
But the video assistant referee (VAR) cleared that incident, in addition to deeming Jan Paul van Hecke was onside, and the goal stood – much to the home team’s dismay.
Sunderland’s complaints don’t reach the disallowed goal threshold
Regis Le Bris‘ team felt that one of the incidents in the build-up to the goal should have led to a free-kick going their way, but it wasn’t to be.
Indeed, former Everton defender Williams felt that, as the corner kick hadn’t been taken before Diarra went down after tangling with Dunk, the game didn’t need to be stopped.
Moreover, he pointed out that Granit Xhaka was keeping Minteh onside when his cross-cum-shot sneaked in past the unsighted Melker Ellborg, who had Van Hecke blocking his view.
Ex-Swansea City man Williams did admit, though, that it was a very lucky goal.
He said on Match of the Day: “Here we see there is a little shove [on Diarra]. The ball is not in play, that’s the main thing, so it can’t be a foul. I don’t think it’s enough for a foul anyway.
“Xhaka can’t move his feet quickly enough; he kind of falls over. Now people might ask, ‘Why is he not offside?’ It’s because Xhaka is still on the pitch, and he’s playing him on.
“As he’s tried to cross it, I don’t think this is a shot; the goalkeeper can’t see it at all because Van Hecke has blocked him. It ends up squirming its way in. Minteh can’t believe his luck.”
Sunderland, who had a goal for Chris Rigg ruled out for offside before Minteh’s winner, have now lost four of their last six games but are 12 points above the relegation zone with eight fixtures to go.
Have Sunderland been found out?
Sunderland were flying high at the start of the season as Le Bris’ team took to the Premier League in style following their Championship Play-Off Final win.
The Black Cats’ safety is virtually assured, particularly off the back of an impressive first half of the campaign, but 2026 has not been as kind to them.
In addition to the Port Vale fifth-round FA Cup defeat, Sunderland have lost seven times this year already.
| Sunderland’s Premier League losses in 2026 | Date |
| Brentford 3-0 Sunderland | 7 January |
| West Ham 3-1 Sunderland | 24 January |
| Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland | 7 February |
| Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool | 11 February |
| Sunderland 1-3 Fulham | 22 February |
| Sunderland 0-1 Brighton | 14 March |
In contrast, they tasted defeat a mere four times in the league between their season opener against West Ham in mid-August and early January.
Does this mean that teams are figuring out how to beat Le Bris’ side? Or that their own levels are dropping off?
Perhaps it is something in between. But if Sunderland want to avoid a whimpering finish to the season, they may need to make a few tweaks. If not, next campaign could be more difficult.
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