BLADES CUT UP AT GOAL ERROR
Technology lets down Wilder’s men as they strive for fifth spot
THE new normal was not that different after all.
After so much planning and detail to get games back on, it was almost inevitable that something else would go wrong.
Sure enough, the Premier League’s first match back in Project Restart will forever be remembered for the all-time clanger of the goal that never was.
Oliver Norwood was denied an obvious Sheffield United goal after Aston Villa keeper Orjan Nyland carried the ball over his own line.
Incredibly, the goal-line technology failed, referee Michael Oliver’s watch did not buzz and it was left to TV replays to show the ball was way over the line.
You had to feel sorry for Oliver as the VAR did not intervene either and the Premier League’s top referee will forever be haunted by replays, which will also be a permanent reminder that lockdown left us all needing a trip to the hairdresser.
In fact, the only comfort for the referee was there were no fans there to scream blue murder at him as Chris Wilder’s men were denied a victory that would have taken them up into fifth place.
It was a let-off for Villa, who provided plenty of hard work, endeavour and effort but no proven goalscorer, a void which might ultimately take them down.
But for those of us lucky enough to be in the stadium, the intensity of the game almost made you forget the surreal nature of the occasion.
It was brilliantly organised, just under 300 people in the ground – mostly from the media – to watch the first instalment of the top flight’s return after 100 days.
A minute’s silence was held before the game for coronavirus victims before every player took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign.
The 300 parked up, had their temperature checked and were directed to their seat in an operation of military precision.
Everything was clearly marked, the stadium concourse with yellow tape and arrows directing you where to go to hear the screams of United boss Wilder and Villa counterpart Dean Smith echo around the place.
The biggest problem for Smith was that there were no signs directing his strikers towards goal. Rookie Keinan Davis, a surprise starter, used his strength and muscle to bully Sheffield United’s defence and caused all manner of problems. But Davis headed a great first-half chance over from almost underneath the bar, while centre-back Kortney Hause also wasted a close-range chance before fitagain John McGinn was denied by a super save from Dean Henderson. Whether the whole thing was quite as engrossing for armchair viewers watching on TV is another matter but at least they would have got instant replays of the night’s biggest talking point.
That came after 42 minutes when Nyland caught Norwood’s curling free-kick but collided with Davis and carried the ball back over his line.
United’s players screamed goal but Oliver’s watch did not vibrate. Villa raced down the other end, and as soon as another free-kick was given, VAR could no longer step in.
The moment was gone. It was strangely entertaining to see United’s data analysts watch the TV replays in the press box then rush down to join the protests.
But just over three months on, another controversial moment made it feel like football had never been away.