WOODS HAS TO FACE FACTS
A GREAT escape has to start somewhere – and what better place than a great let-off?
Two penalties conceded, a Brighton strike wiped out amid more refereeing and VAR controversy – yet somehow West Brom kept a clean sheet to record only their third victory of the season.
The Baggies stay second bottom but the gap between them and the pack above looks a little bit more surmountable.
Brighton have only themselves to blame.
Even after the pandemonium when Lewis Dunk took a quick free-kick, which caused referee Lee Mason’s ability to be questioned again, the visitors were also awarded two penalties with Pascal Gross and sub Danny Welbeck hitting the woodwork.
The goal that sunk Brighton came in the 11th minute when
Kyle Bartley (above) steamed in to head home a cross.
After Gross missed his penalty came the bedlam that followed Dunk’s quick set-piece that went in.
It was disallowed, then awarded, then ruled out again after a VAR consultation.
It caused a delay of over four minutes. No-one could understand the decision or the rationale behind it.
Seagulls boss Graham Potter said: “Lewis asked to take the free-kick quickly and the referee said, ‘Yes’. In between that, there was another whistle. I don’t know what that was for. It would be nice to have more clarification. I don’t understand it.
“There’s confusion on the pitch and it gets worse when someone outside is making the decisions.
“We get a report from the referees after games. I’m sure they’ll explain it.
“I’m sure the referee didn’t mean it.
“I don’t know about the procedure of the whistles. If the right decision has been made, there’s nothing you can do.” No wonder Baggies boss Sam Allardyce was smiling. He said: “It was a bizarre game.
“I didn’t think quick free-kicks were allowed any more. I’ve not seen one for two or three years.
“I’m glad this wasn’t awarded, obviously.
“I’ve watched many games and I thought everyone had the chance to get set up properly. Just in case, from now on, we will have someone standing on the ball.’’
Another defining moment arrived late on. Conor Townsend’s lunge at Gross led to another penalty but Welbeck hit the post.
It wasn’t bungling Brighton’s day.
AITOR KARANKA hailed Birmingham’s comeback after Alen Halilovic clinched their first home win in four months.
Halilovic (right) came on as a 62nd-minute substitute and hammered in the winner five minutes from time.
And Blues boss Karanka said: “We came back, we won and we won at home. Hopefully, this is the turning point for us.”
His side fell behind
Birmingham 2 QPR 1
to a Charlie Austin goal just before half-time but Kristian Pedersen equalised in the 82nd minute with his first goal for over a year.
The visitors should have been two up early in the second half but Stefan Johansen shot wildly over. “That was the deciding moment,” said Rangers boss Mark Warburton.”