Newcastle United academy director Steve Harper has hit out at the ‘dreadful’ VAR decision that denied Elliot Anderson a goal at Nottingham Forest. The Magpies went on to win 2-1.
Alexander Isak secured the Toon all three points at the City Ground on Friday after a 90+3 minute penalty. Anderson had put Newcastle ahead earlier in the second half only for VAR Peter Bankes and referee Paul Tierney to speak and rule out his goal at Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle will feel very aggrieved that Tierney and Bankes decided that Anderson’s goal at Nottingham Forest would not count. The 20-year-old thought he had his first senior goal in the 64th minute. But the officials debated and ruled Sean Longstaff offside in the build-up.
Why did Tierney and VAR Bankes rule out Anderson’s goal at Nottingham Forest?
Anderson enjoyed a lively start after replacing Allan Saint-Maximin at half-time. He played with purpose and intent whilst making his 19th first-team appearance. It appeared that he had given the Magpies the lead, too, after rising above Serge Aurier to head in Isak’s cross.
The youngster got up early to tower over the right-back and meet the Sweden striker’s ball to the far past. But VAR Bankes sent Tierney to the pitchside monitor and the referees felt fellow Newcastle product Longstaff should be ruled offside, so ruled Anderson’s goal out.
Longstaff was, indeed, in an offside position before Isak crossed into Anderson for his goal at Nottingham Forest. VAR Bankes and Tierney then conferred and ruled he had impacted play. Yet two Reds players intentionally played the ball after Isak’s initial attempted cross.
Felipe blocked Isak’s cross and the ball fell to Moussa Niakhate, who would then boot it at Longstaff. It could be argued that the two Nottingham Forest players’ actions necessitated a second phase of play. Yet VAR Bankes and Tierney felt differently and ruled out the goal.
Newcastle icon Harper fumes at VAR Bankes and Tierney’s decision
Tierney and VAR Bankes left Newcastle icon Harper fuming after ruling out Anderson’s goal at Nottingham Forest. The ex-Toon goalkeeper and current academy director could not get his head around the call. It would have been the best moment of Anderson’s young career.
“That’s a dreadful VAR decision!” he fumed on Twitter. “How is it offside when two Forest players have intentionally played the ball before Longstaff becomes active?”
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