Wolves in a rage as VAR denies Boly
IT’S not football anymore. The Wolves crowd’s verdict at the latest VAr controversy echoed the views of many who love the game as those studying the screens at Stockley Park again overshadowed an absorbing Premier League encounter.
Willy Boly thought he had given Wolves the lead on the cusp of half-time, only for team-mate Pedro Neto to be deemed offside in the build-up, long after referee Mike Dean had given the goal.
It was another of those fractional decisions that infuriate, with the Wolves Twitter feed claiming ‘one of Neto’s studs’ had been in an illegal position after a short corner.
It was easy to understand the anger. VAr also cost Wolves what would have been the winner in the reverse fixture at Leicester on the opening day of the season — the first of four goals chalked off by VAr for them this term.
With Manchester City set to miss the next two editions of the Champions League, fifth place may be good enough to reach the competition. Wolves boss Nuno espirito Santo will surely be wondering if these marginal calls will cost his team a shot at it.
They had the better openings here against a Leicester side still searching for their early- season excellence, though this point may prove crucial in their own attempt to reach europe’s elite.
‘We created chances and we did enough to win the game,’ said Wolves captain Conor Coady. ‘I don’t really want to speak too much about VAr, it doesn’t really get anywhere. We don’t understand the decision, not many people do.’
Both managers had said the winter break would refresh their teams, yet based on the evidence of the opening 20 minutes it left them a little rusty.
Leicester would have been delighted to see both Adama Traore and Joao Moutinho — two of Wolves’ key players — left on the bench as they were carrying knocks, and the away side created the first opening of the match in the ninth minute.
youri Tielemans’ deflected 30-yard strike was pushed away by rui Patricio and though Jamie Vardy — without a goal in his last five league games — worked the loose ball to Ayoze Perez, the Spaniard could not pick out a team-mate from a perfect crossing position.
kasper Schmeichel then spared his team immediate punishment by saving with his feet from Diogo Jota, who had collected the ball unmarked inside the area following an excellent burst from the right by Neto, Traore’s replacement.
A minute before half time, VAr ruled out a Wolves goal against Leicester for the second time this season. Boly headed in from close range after Doherty had headed Neto’s cross back into the danger zone, yet the goal was ruled out due to a marginal offside against Neto, who had collected a return pass Jota following a short corner.
Nuno and members of his staff directed their anger at fourth official robert Jones and when the half- time whistle went, Coady raged at Dean and continued the discussion as they walked down the tunnel, with ruben Neves and Neto also chipping in.
having initially waited for the referee on the touchline, Nuno thought better of it and instead walked away shaking his head.
Leicester twice came close at the start of the second half. First romain Saiss did well to block Perez’s close-range attempt at the far post, and then ricardo Pereira fired over from an angle after weaving his way into the area.
With 25 minutes remaining, Nuno sent on his star man, with Traore cheered on to the pitch as he replaced Neto. Traore could not unlock the door immediately but Wolves’ push for victory received a boost when hamza Choudhury was sent off for a second booking. The second foul, on Leander Dendoncker, was as rash as the first on raul Jimenez, and Leicester boss Brendan rodgers made no attempt to console the young midfielder as he walked off the pitch.
With blood pouring from Matt Doherty’s head wound, inflicted by James Maddison’s raised boot, the Irishman looked like Terry Butcher in 1989, leading england to a 0-0 vital draw in their 1990 World Cup qualification campaign.
The same result here will bring Wolves far less satisfaction, especially when late chances from Jimenez and Traore went begging.
WOLVES (3-4-3): Rui Patricio 6; Boly 6.5, Coady 6.5, Saiss 7; Doherty 6, Dendoncker 6.5, Neves 6.5 (Moutinho 82min), Jonny 6.5; Neto 6.5 (Traore 64, 6.5), Jimenez 6, Jota 6.5 (Podence 78). Subs not used: Ruddy, Gibbs-White, Kilman, Buur. Booked: Neves, Dendoncker.
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 6.5. LEICESTER (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel 6.5; Pereira 6.5, Evans 6.5, SOYUNCU 7.5, Chilwell 6; Choudhury 5; Perez 5.5 (Albrighton 68, 6), Tielemans 6.5 (Praet 75, 6), Maddison 7, Barnes 6 (Morgan 90); Vardy 5.5.
Subs not used: Ward, Justin, Gray, Iheanacho. Booked: Maddison, Choudhury, Chilwell. Sent off: Choudhury.
Manager: Brendan Rodgers 6. Referee: Mike Dean 6.
Attendance: 31,682.