Warburton fumes after Austin ‘goal’ ruled out
Mark Warburton, the Queens Park Rangers manager, described as “staggering” a decision by referee Keith Stroud and his assistant to disallow a potential winning goal from Charlie Austin in last night’s Carabao Cup tie. The QPR top scorer, on as a substitute, was ruled offside after a shot by Albert Adomah had deflected to him off defender Dennis Cirkin. Replays showed he had been onside.
The game remained goalless and Sunderland won on penalties, which was a bitter pill for QPR, who had won a shoot-out 8-7 against Everton in the previous round. This time their nerve failed as Sunderland went through to the last eight for the first time since they reached the final in 2013-14. Austin had the first shot saved by goalkeeper Lee Burge and both Ilias Chair and Yoann Barbet shot over.
Warburton had sent on top scorer Austin in the hope that he would find a winner in a game where the quality of the finishing failed to live up to the attacking intent on both sides. It should have paid off.
“I’ve just seen the picture,” Warburton said. “What can I say without getting fined? It’s staggering to be that wrong on a major decision in a game of that importance. We’re not talking about an inch. It’s feet between Charlie being onside and offside. Those types of decisions, you cannot get it wrong.
“I can’t say we deserved to go through. But this level, with what’s at take, the financial implications, everything which comes with progression to the last eight, I’ve never been so shocked.”
In normal time neither team could find the firepower to match some good creative play. “I thought bar a 20-minute spell in the first half we were worth the draw and the victory,” Lee Johnson, the Sunderland manager, said.
Queens Park Rangers (3-5-2) Dieng 7; Dickie 7, De Wijs 6, Barbet 7; Kakay 6 (Adomah 72), Amos 6 (Duke-mckenna 84), Chair 7, Willock 6 (Dozzell 73), Odubajo 7; Gray 5 (Austin 62), Dykes 5. Subs Archer (g), Johansen, Ball, Dunne, Drewe. Booked De Wijs.
Sunderland (4-1-4-1): Burge 8; Winchester 7, Alves 6 (Doyle 69), Wright 7, Hume 6 (Cirkin 24); Evans 7 (O’brien 64); Neil 6, Gooch 6 (Mcgeady 64), O’nien 7, Dajaku 6 (Pritchard 69); Stewart 5. Subs Hoffman (g), Flanagan, Harris, Wearne. Booked O’nien, Gooch.
Referee Keith Stroud (Hampshire).