‘Sunderland winner vs Chelsea should’ve been ruled out after what I’ve seen’ – Ex-PGMOL chief
Sunderland have reached the dizzying heights of second in the Premier League table following their 2-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday.
Sunderland’s victory at Stamford Bridge came courtesy of Chemsdine Talbi, who calmly finished a curling effort past Robert Sanchez after Brian Brobbey did brilliantly to hold the ball up.
Regis Le Bris’ side have exceeded all expectations, with every player performing out of their skin to secure a first win away against Chelsea since 2014.
Sunderland’s start to the season is the best a promoted side has made in the Premier League since Hull City in 2008-09, and supporters are rightfully over the moon after producing their biggest scalp yet.
However, Sunderland were perhaps fortunate when Talbi’s goal wasn’t disallowed.
Chemsdine Talbi’s winner should not have stood – Keith Hackett
Sunderland felt aggrieved in their 2-0 loss to Man United when Stuart Atwell reversed his decision to award them a penalty for a foul on Trai Hume.
Against Chelsea, Sunderland were perhaps on the receiving end of good fortune when Talbi’s goal was allowed to stand.
At the moment Talbi hit his shot, Lutsharel Geertruida was standing in an offside position, and he could have been adjudged to have been in the eyeline of Sanchez, yet referee Andy Madley was not asked to go to the screen by VAR.
Regardless, Sanchez wasn’t anywhere near saving it, yet it has raised questions over what constitutes a player being in the goalkeeper’s way when a shot is struck.
Former FIFA official Keith Hackett has exclusively told Mackem News that referee Andy Madley could have disallowed Talbi’s 93rd-minute goal.
He said: “Whilst I do not like to see goals chalked off for offside, I am surprised that the referee was not asked to visit the pitch-side monitor to put his stamp of approval, or otherwise, in the decision to rule out the goal.
“The offside law states that interfering with an opponent by ‘preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision’.
“It is my belief that the player standing in an offside position does impact on the Chelsea goalkeeper and the goal should be ruled out for an offside offence.”
Refereeing controversy takes nothing away from Sunderland’s win
Regardless of what may be thought of the winning goal, Sunderland supporters won’t care in the slightest.
Sunderland were predicted to be relegated at the start of the season, yet that is a far cry from what we’re currently seeing from Le Bris’ men.
The unbeaten start at the Stadium of Light has propelled them to a fantastic start, yet the wins over Chelsea and Nottingham Forest on the road mean so much more.
Chelsea and Forest finished fourth and seventh, respectively, and to record wins against sides who were touted to be in that mix yet again is as brilliant as it is unexpected.
The dogged nature of both wins has shown their ability to dig deep when needed, and that is a quality every successful Premier League team needs.
Every Sunderland fan will have woken up on Sunday not quite believing the situation they are in, and long may that feeling continue for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.
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