Jackson furious at handball decision

MIKE JACKSON tried his best to remain upbeat but could not hide his irritation about the penalty decision against Ashley Barnes that ultimately secured victory for Tottenham and kept his Burnley team mired in relegation trouble. ‘I don’t think it’s a penalty,’ fumed Jackson. ‘You’ve got to look at it in the context of what happened before the ball came in. It’s an 18-yard box with people competing. Someone pulls at Ash’s arm. He’s trying to keep his balance. The ball comes in and I don’t know how he can get out of the way. ‘You don’t stand in an 18-yard box with your arms at your side. I don’t know if the referee’s played football but you don’t do that. Your arms are up there to protect you and help you move, to give you strength. ‘I don’t get it. Nobody has even appealed for a penalty. You can go back into that 18-yard box and say there’s been three shirt-pulls and someone’s pulled someone’s arm and you’ll never get the game going.’ The ball glanced Barnes on his right arm as he defended a set-piece at the end of the first half. Referee Kevin Friend did not blow until he was advised by VAR Stuart Attwell to check the replays on the pitch-side monitor and, after a long delay, returned and pointed to the spot, sparking angry exchanges on the touchline. Harry Kane converted clinically and dissent spilled into the tunnel as the players returned to the dressing rooms. ‘I’m annoyed but I’m proud of the group,’ said Jackson, who takes his team to Aston Villa on Thursday before finishing at home to Newcastle on Sunday. ‘I’ve seen really good signs. I’ve seen a group that is fighting. They had that spirit still. I don’t want my annoyance with something to take away from that.’ Unsurprisingly, Spurs’ Antonio Conte thought it was a good decision. ‘Two hundred per cent a penalty,’ said Conte. ‘It was so clear. It was very difficult to understand the complaints. If your arm is in this way and you take the ball, it is clear.’