Pep Guardiola looks on as Manchester City take on Bournemouth in the Premier League | Carl Recine/Getty Imagesplaceholder image
Pep Guardiola looks on as Manchester City take on Bournemouth in the Premier League | Carl Recine/Getty Images | Getty Images
Man City will be looking to maintain momentum against Fulham and the Premier League have announced who the officials will be.
Man City might still be six points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race, however, the three points gained in the win over Liverpool felt like so much more.
After a dip in form, City now need to go on the sort of run that has seen them win titles in the past with Fulham the visitors to the Etihad and the Premier League has given the side in second place a boost.
Man City v Fulham referee announcement made
The Premier League has announced that the man in the middle is set to be Paul Tierney, an official who has been kind to City in the past and who has proven to be something of a lucky charm.
In the last 12 years, Tierney has officiated City on no fewer than 32 occasions with the blue half of Manchester emerging victorious on 28 of these, drawing two and losing two in the process. The 45-year old isn’t known to be card happy either, averaging around 3.5 cards per game for his 15 so far this season.
On VAR duty at Stockley Park will be Neil Davies in the role of Video Assistant Referee with Assistant Video Assistant Referee Matt Donohue by his side. They will be hoping that they don’t make the sort of mistake that Tierney made to City’s benefit last season in a Manchester derby when United should have been awarded a penalty for a foul on Alejandro Garnacho by Ruben Dias.
Man City benefit from Paul Tierney blunder
Former referee chief Keith Hacket told Football Insider that Tierney should have done better with the technology at his disposal: “It was a close call, and that initial contact appears to be just outside the area – the speed of the player moves the incident closer to the line, which is of course then deemed inside.
“I’ve had the opportunity of looking closely at the replays shown by beIN Sports. The quality of their technical equipment gives clarity to that early decision in the Manchester Derby. Referee John Brooks, close to the incident, waved away appeals for a penalty kick. However, looking at the beIN Sports replay evidence shows that the offence was on the line and the outcome should have been the award of a penalty kick.
“Technology on these tight decisions is essential, allowing VAR [Paul] Tierney to make the correct call, rather than the inaccurate intervention and result.”
The incident in question was in the first minute, hopefully Tierney doesn’t miss something as blatant that could cost City this time.
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