Exclusive: Kevin Phillips delivers verdict on referee display in West Brom v Nottm Forest
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
West Brom’s 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday was full of controversy – but Kevin Phillips did not see much of an issue with the officiating on the pitch at The Hawthorns.
Forest felt aggrieved when Jake Livermore was not sent off for a hard challenge on Yuri Ribeiro while there were also loud shouts for a foul on Sammy Ameobi in the build-up to Albion’s second goal and a weak appeal for a penalty.
In the final seconds of the match, West Brom had a goal disallowed for offside despite the ball crossing the line and Kyle Bartley appearing to have no impact on the play.
Referee Keith Stroud has since taken a lot of criticism from fans but Phillips believes that there was no much of an issue with the decisions on the pitch.
“Yeah I’d say so,” Phillips told West Brom News when asked if the officials had a good game at the weekend.
“I watched the Chelsea game on Monday night and there were all sorts going on with the two disallowed goals and the [Harry] Maguire kick-out which we all saw happen and unfortunately VAR saw nothing wrong with it.
“So yeah, I would say the officiating at the weekend was okay.”
West Brom let slip of their lead twice as they saw their three-match winning streak come to an end against Forest.
Callum Robinson’s first goal for the club was cancelled out by a Bartley own goal before Tobias Figueiredo then stuck the ball in his own net.
Matty Cash’s late stunner was enough to grab a point for the visitors and Phillips has suggested that it was a better result for Forest than it was the Baggies.
“From West Brom’s point of view, they will have been disappointed to have conceded in the dying seconds to only get a point,” the ex-Albion striker added. “But I think Forest showed great spirit and great qualities and it sets the league up very nicely now for the last 13 games for all the teams.
“It’s very tight at the top, right from the top down to even Millwall now, who’ve put themselves back in the race for a play-off spot.
“There are exciting times ahead.”
West Brom may have dropped points against Forest but their performance was still pleasing to most supporters and it bodes well going into a tough couple of matches against promotion rivals Bristol City and Preston.
In other West Brom news, there’s been an update on whether Albion will be signing free agent Martin Olsson.