Llorente gives ref some relief
Striker’s winner makes up for penalty clanger
ANTHONY TAYLOR will want to avoid watching Match of the Day after his refereeing mistake turned into the talking point at the Liberty Stadium yesterday.
Described as ‘one of the worst decisions’ ever seen by some supporters, Taylor awarded Burnley a first-half penalty — after one of their own players had handled the ball in the box.
With every replay, the referee’s controversial call to punish Swansea for a Sam Vokes handball looked worse.
Were it not for the heroics of Swansea striker Fernando Llorente, who scored a winner in stoppage time, Paul Clement would have seen his side’s fight for survival take a huge hit.
Taylor spent three days this week in Marbella for his stag-do. In Wales yesterday, his hangover was only made worse.
Swansea feel they got the least they deserved after dominating from start to finish. They had hit the woodwork three times and seen two shots cleared off the line before Llorente scored his second goal of the afternoon to send Burnley home as beaten losers.
It also sent Clement sprinting down the touchline in celebration and he said afterwards: ‘I wish I hadn’t done that because I’ve only just got my breath back. It was an exhilarating moment.’
Asked about video technology and whether it should be brought into the Premier League, Clement said: ‘One hundred per cent.
‘I really don’t understand why it takes so long to do it. It has been spoken about for years and years and years.
‘The next thing it will be a trial, then it will be implemented in another year or two years, but these things are happening now.
‘I feel for the referees. I referee games in training all the time. Sometimes I guess what the decision is. Sometimes I go off the reaction of the players.
‘I do try to call it honestly and it’s so hard in real time to get some decisions correct. ‘What is bizarre is the referee, assistants and fourth official are the only people in the stadium who do not have the help that they need. And they need it more than anybody. ‘Media have got it. Technical staff can get it. Fans have got it in real time on their mobiles. The only one who does not get the help is the one who needs it the most.’
Clement spoke to Taylor at halftime and was told it was an ‘honest decision’ by the official.
‘Clearly it was a mistake,’ added the Swansea boss.
Burnley were without Tom Heaton, the goalkeeper who has made the most saves in the Premier League this season. Illness ruled him out and he was replaced by 37-year-old Paul Robinson.
Without Heaton, Swansea simply shot on sight. The home side scored their opener in the 12th minute when a sublime cross from the right by Leroy Fer found Llorente. The 32-year-old Spain striker made no mistake in finding the far corner with his head, showing why Chelsea’s Antonio Conte was looking at him in January.
Then came Taylor’s controversial call. A Burnley corner led to a Burnley handball by Vokes. Taylor thought about it then pointed to the penalty spot, mistakenly thinking it had hit a Swansea arm.
Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski sprinted to the linesman in protest and his team-mates surrounded the referee, all amazed. Andre Gray stepped up and scored to make it 1-1.
Taylor’s half-time whistle was greeted by a chorus of boos. They continued when he came out of the tunnel for the second half, too.
It was all Swansea but then, something strange happened. Burnley — the team who had only picked up two points on the road all season — took the lead.
A header down by Vokes found Gray, who was given time to turn and shoot for the far corner.
Suddenly Swansea, despite their dominance, were 2-1 down.
Burnley’s supporters sang: ‘How s*** must you be? We’re winning away.’ To which Swansea’s sang: ‘To the referee 2-1.’
But it wasn’t long before the scoreline was 2-2.
In the 69th minute a flick through by Gylfi Sigurdsson found Martin Olsson. It was on a tight angle but the Sweden international’s rocket shot beat Robinson.
Swansea were on top in the closing stages and got their reward in stoppage time. Tom Carroll’s cross from the left was hanging in the air and Llorente attacked it, scoring to break Burnley hearts.