Sunderland fans may feel aggrieved not to have had a chance to take the lead against Everton from the penalty spot, but referee Tim Robinson has been told he made the right decision despite strong claims for a handball.
Despite most pundits predicting a Sunderland win, it was Everton who took the lead at the Stadium of Light via a superb solo effort from Iliman Ndiaye.
However, Sunderland came racing out of the blocks in the second half, with Granit Xhaka firing home his first goal for the Black Cats to level the score after some fine work from Enzo Le Fee.
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From there, it was all Sunderland, with Everton barely registering a touch in the opposition box throughout the second half. And, the Mackems thought they had a golden chance to take the lead when Michael Keane appeared to handle the ball — but the referee denied those claims and left Sunderland fans disappointed.
So, did he make the right decision? In a TBR Football exclusive, Mark Clattenburg explains why the decision was made, and what he would have done in the same position.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Mark Clattenburg shares verdict on Sunderland handball shouts
According to Clattenburg, referee Tim Robinson made the right decision, and it’s all down to the fact Keane was so close to the ball when it was fired his way by Noah Sadiki.
He said: “Sunderland wanted a penalty when the ball touched the hand of Michael Keane inside the penalty area. The referee judged it accidental and the VAR agreed. We have seen in the last weeks that the Premier League have a high threshold on handballs and less are given when the ball hits the hand.
“The hand is slightly away from the body but the ball is hit from a short distance onto the hand with no movement towards the ball. Therefore I would prefer that penalties are not awarded for this.”
Sunderland fans will argue that Keane’s body was in a very unnatural position, but proximity is another key factor that referees are told to consider when making these decisions. So, while it’s a bitter pill to swallow for the Black Cats, it’s at least a consistent decision with others we have seen this season.
Michael Keane in action for Everton against Leeds United
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Michael Keane was a rock at the back for Everton vs Sunderland
One of the main reasons Sunderland were unable to make a breakthrough against Everton is down to Michael Keane, and not because of that particular incident.
The big centre-half was a titan at the back for the Toffees. From a defensive perspective, Keane registered one tackle, a massive 14 clearances, blocked three shots, and made one ball recovery. He also won five of seven duels on the night.
Keane was the last man on the line to prevent a goalmouth scramble leading to a Sunderland goal, putting his head in where it hurts. It’s typical of the Everton man, who is known for his physical, determined displays.
He may have got away with one when it comes to the penalty shout, but he did more than enough to earn that luck.