Wood denied in VAR controversy

All Whites striker Chris Wood scored his fourth goal of the season but was livid at Burnley being denied an equaliser on a day when controversial video referee rulings blighted three English Premier League games.

Wood fired Burnley ahead with a header in the 26th minute yesterday, before Leicester fought back with goals to ex-england striker Jamie Vardy and Belgian international Youri Tielemans for a 2-1 win.

Burnley looked to have equalised eight minutes before fulltime after Wood pressured Leicester defender Jonny Evans into turning the ball into his own net.

The goal was disallowed after referee Moss consulted the VAR (video assistant referee) and ruled Wood had fouled Evans.

Wood - who has now scored four goals in as many games – and Burnley manager Sean Dyche were both adamant the goal should have stood.

‘‘The ball has bounced off Jonny and gone in and I hear there might have been a little accidental clip of the heels,’’ Wood told the Burnley club website.

‘‘But my eyes are looking at the ball, straight ahead or up, nowhere near him. When the clip happens the ball is already on the line, if not over.

‘‘There is no way he is getting back to clear it and is it clear and obvious enough to overrule the referee?

‘‘In my opinion, no. I don’t think that was in the least clear and obvious and it’s frustrating.’’

Dyche told Sky Sports he was ‘‘very disappointed’’ with the referee’s decision to disallow the goal.

‘‘I’m a big fan of VAR but it has to be used more wisely than that.

‘‘Chris Wood only has eyes for the ball and the defender isn’t getting it in a million years. The referee doesn’t even use the screen, he has got to come and look at that and I’d be surprised if he gave it.

The disallowed goal enabled Leicester to bank three points to move to second on the EPL table.

Wood headed home Dwight Mcneil’s cross in the first half admitted he had a clearcut chance before Evans’ intervention and ‘‘should probably have put it away’’.

‘‘But Kasper [Schmeichel] made a nice save with his foot and that’s how it goes sometimes.’’

‘‘We did well and on another day we will get the rub of the green and it would be a 2-2 if not a 3-2 to us.

Wood, 27, played at Leicester City from 2013 to 2015, and scored his first Premier League goal for the Midlands club.

His return to Leicester coincided with a club commemoration to mark a year since the death of popular former Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s death in a helicopter crash near City’s King Power Stadium.

Meanwhile, AAP reported Tottenham’s struggles in the Premier League showed no signs of ending as Spurs needed a late equaliser just to earn a 1-1 home draw against last-place Watford on Saturday.

Dele Alli’s late equaliser for Tottenham was allowed to stand after a VAR check, despite the midfielder seemingly using his arm to control the ball before slotting home in the 86th minute. In addition, the big screens at Tottenham Stadium initially showed that VAR had overturned the goal, before the referee pointed to the spot and allowed it to stand.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, meanwhile, had two goals disallowed by VAR in the first half as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at home – although both those decisions appeared correct.

Manchester City also had a strong penalty appeal denied by VAR, but that didn’t stop the defending champion from easing to a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace. after two goals in three minutes by Gabriel Jesus and David Silva.

Chelsea joined Leicester in moving into the top four by beating Newcastle 1-0 at home for their fifth straight win in all competitions while Everton beat West Ham 2-0.

Aston Villa rallied to defeat 10-man Brighton 2-1 after the Seagulls had Australian midfielder Adrian Mooy sent off after two yellow cards in five minutes, the first for kicking the ball away and the second for a foul on Villa’s Jack Grealish.

Bournemouth drew 0-0 at home against Norwich.

AAP