At this stage Gary O’Neil could be forgiven for wondering if VAR has been designed purely to drive him mad. Clear and obvious? All that was beyond debate when Harry Wilson tumbled over João Gomes’s outstretched leg in added time was that the Fulham substitute had taken advantage of the Wolves midfielder’s naivety. It was barely a challenge from Gomes and Fulham could hardly have cried foul if Michael Salisbury’s decision to wave play on had stood.
But there would be interference from Stockley Park. There was slight contact from Gomes; enough to make Stuart Attwell send Salisbury to the pitchside monitor. Wilson had played it beautifully, tumbling theatrically. Fulham, seeking their first win in five league matches, needed the points. There was no holding back when Willian, who had already scored one contentious penalty early in the second half, lifted Marco Silva’s side 10 points above the bottom three by firing a low spot-kick past José Sá.
Written by Jacob Steinberg at Craven Cottage
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/nov/27/fulham-wolves-premier-league-match-report under the title “Gary O’Neil laments VAR after Willian’s two penalties help Fulham beat Wolves”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
