THAT’S TOE BAD
Farke fury at Canaries’ new video nasty
NORWICH 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 1 WILFRIED ZAHA and VAR became unlikely sweethearts to give Norwich’s survival hopes another kicking.
The Canaries were five minutes away from a vital victory when Palace sub Connor Wickham slid in an equaliser.
A linesman’s flag shot up straight away and the ex-Ipswich man did look guilty as he poked in Zaha’s pass.
But the remote control officials from Stockley Park were able to spot that a long leg belonging to Canaries defender Christoph Zimmermann had played him on.
And that left Norwich seven points shy of safety on a day when fellow strugglers Watford, Aston Villa, Southampton and West Ham all won.
Canaries fans are used to VAR decisions not going their way – top-scorer Teemu Pukki was the victim of a ridiculous armpit offside call in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
For Palace and Zaha it was a rare chance to celebrate given that their star man had been harshly adjudged to have been offside in a draw with Saints the same day.
Norwich boss Daniel Farke said: “I knew they would find a little moment to paint a nice line and find the player was not offside.
“Our goal in our game against Tottenham was disallowed when Teemu Pukki starts his run one yard further away but they found a moment where a part of his body was closer than the opponent.
“Today they found a line Christoph’s toenail was closer than the opponent.
“I’m just not sure you can guarantee they have the line exactly at the right moment, and a small situation can make unbelievable difference.”
Palace boss Roy Hodgson said: “The original decision on the field last week we were convinced from our position on the bench that we had scored a good goal, today it was exactly the opposite.
“From the bench it looked like Connor was in an offside position and the linesman thought so.
“I wasn’t surprised the flag went up but the fine margin has worked in our favour this time.”
VAR was briefly involved in Todd Cantwell’s fourth-minute opener for Norwich, who often shine early on in front of their own fans.
The Dereham Deco made it himself by slipping the ball to Emi Buendia and then tracking the deflection of the shot that followed before slotting past keeper Vincente Guaita.
A VAR check delayed home celebrations and wasted more time straight after when James Tomkins hauled Pukki down.
The centre-back was the last man but Pukki was offside.
The bar denied Kenny McLean midway through the second half – and Wickham made Norwich pay.