Brighton beat Crystal Palace on VAR debut

SUBSTITUTE Glenn Murray grabbed Brighton and Hove Albion a 2-1 FA Cup thirdround victory over rivals Crystal Palace on Monday night as video technology made its bow in England.

It was the first time the Video Assistant Referee ( VAR) system had been used in English football for a one-off trial, but was never needed to overturn any decision by referee Andre Marriner at the Amex Stadium.

There was some confusion over the winning goal in the 87th minute, though, as former Palace striker Murray bundled in the winner with his knee following a free-kick to score his seventh goal this term.

Palace players protested to the officials after the game that the ball had touched Murray’s arm after his knee, but replays suggested the right decision had been made.

Midfielder Dale Stephens gave the hosts a 25th-minute lead by rifling a shot through Wayne Hennessey at the Palace keeper’s near post.

Mali for ward Bakar y Sako, making just his fourth start of the season, hammered home a brilliant equaliser for Palace midway through the second per iod f rom long ra nge to cap a n excel lent i ndiv idua l display.

But Murray came off the bench t o t a k e Br i g ht o n through, and they will travel to Championship side Middlesbrough in the fourth round at the end of January.

Palace Manager Roy Hodgson admitted that he initially thought the goal was handball but accepted it was legitimate after assurances from the VAR, the Guardian reported.

“Without a doubt I had my suspicions about their winning goal, fuelled by the reaction of my keeper and the players who were close to the incident. They looked incensed. I made a few spiteful comments to the ref at the final whistle but that’s just my nature and I regret them now,” Hodgson said.

“There is still a slight suspi- cion that the ball might have brushed Murray’s arm but I think it was a genuine goal, and if my player had scored like that, I would be very upset if it was disallowed.”

B r i g h t o n b o s s C h r i s Hughton said of the incident: “I am under the impression that VAR was used on the goal a n d t h e y d i d n’t s e e a n infringement. Having seen it again, it’s reasonably clear it didn’t hit his hand and there was no decision to be made.”