Former PL referee reacts to contentious moment in Sunderland win v Sheffield Wednesday
Chris Foy has had his say on Luke O’Nien’s contentious goal during the Sunderland versus Sheffield Wednesday clash.
The Black Cats ran out emphatic 4-0 winners on Sunday (18 August) to make it two wins from two in this season’s Championship.
O’Nien scored the third of those goals before half-time, but Wednesday’s players were unhappy as they felt there was an offside infringement.
However, speaking on Sky Sports’ Behind The Whistle [20 August], former Premier League referee Foy praised the decision to let the goal stand.
“This decision is a brilliant one which highlights the first-class awareness and judgement of the assistant referee here,” he said.
“Watching the video in full speed, it would be easy to assume the Sunderland attacker who scored the goal is in an offside position.
“However, when stopped at the point of the first shot, we can see the attacker is being played onside by Sheffield Wednesday’s number 11 on the near side. The assistant referee correctly keeps his flag down and the goal is awarded.”
Sunderland send out a statement at Stadium of Light
The win over Cardiff City on the opening weekend set the tone for what is to come this season, but nobody quite expected to thump Sheffield Wednesday quite so emphatically.
This is the same Owls side, remember, that had themselves won 4-0 against Plymouth Argyle a week earlier to go to the top of the embryonic league table.
O’Nien’s goal, as Foy points out, was correctly awarded as there was no offside infringement – regardless of what the Sheffield Wednesday players would have you believe.
The visitors were clearly just frustrated as they found themselves three goals down inside 24 minutes at the Stadium of Light, before shipping a fourth two minutes into the second half.
It was a serene victory for Regis Le Bris and his men, which they will now look to follow up with another positive performance when Burnley – who themselves have made a fast start – visit Stadium of Light next weekend.
In other Sunderland news, Le Bris has been given a fitness boost as a summer signing is closing in on a return to full fitness.
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