VARGH! Burnley Tech second chance
8 UK airports ■ Chris Wood has scored four goals in the FA Cup third round, with each of those strikes coming for a different team (West Brom, Brighton, Leicester and Burnley) VAR couldn’t rescue Barnsley a second time as the League One club suffered FA Cup heartbreak.
The controversial system handed them an unexpected lifeline in the first half when Burnley striker Matej Vydra was halted in his run-up after being awarded a penalty.
But just seconds into four extra minutes at the end of a frenetic encounter Vydra was tripped by Liam Lindsay and this time there was no need for a referral to VAR operator Lee Mason, 234 miles away in Uxbridge.
Substitute Chris Wood took on the spot- kick responsibilities and buried the ball past Adam Davies.
It was the Premier League side’s first penalty award since April 2017 – 64 games ago – so no wonder there had been dismay and bemusement at Vydra’s ‘ghost spot-kick’.
The club also had to hastily backtrack on a halftime tweet. Burnley 0, Barnsley 0, VAR 1.
Ref Simon Hooper had pointed to the spot after Dimi Cavare tugged Vydra to the floor and seemingly after word from HQ.
The Czech striker was entrusted with the 20thminute kick but Hooper reversed the decision after he and assistant ref Richard West were told Vydra strayed offside from Steven Defour’s throughball before the foul.
Up went the flag while Hooper mouthed ‘offside’ to a disbelieving Vydra.
Clarets boss Sean Dyche said: “I’m a big fan of the concept but I know it will take time to iron out.
“I’d say it was a good 80 to 90 seconds before they came to a final decision.
“Me and my staff decided in four seconds that it was offside.
“There is no blame on anyone, it’s just a process which needs speeding up.”
Barnsley had looked good for a replay and went close with an Alex Mowatt free- kick, while Burnley keeper Nick Pope, in his first game since dislocating a shoulder in the Europa League at Aberdeen in July, smothered a Cauley Woodrow effort.
Boss Daniel Stendel said: “We are all disappointed to let in this goal in the last minute. We had the chances to score but one mistake decided the game.
“I know VAR from my t i me managing in Germany. It is a good thing but sometimes in Germany it takes too long. Here the decision took too long.”