Mike Dean reacts to Jayson Molumby incident after Patrick Roberts ‘exaggerated dive’ questioned in West Brom loss to Sunderland
The potential penalty to Sunderland in the 2-1 win over West Brom was “definitely not” a foul by Jayson Molumby, according to Mike Dean.
The former Premier League official reacted on Sky Sports Super Saturday on 9 December after Patrick Roberts went down in the Baggies box, to dismiss the claim as the Black Cats’ man was seen to have initiated contact.
Andy Hinchcliffe had admitted there was a coming together on the live match commentary but suggested Roberts had failed to get the decision because of his “exaggerated dive” at the Stadium of Light.
The Sky Sports pundit said (12.52pm): “The ball does seem to get away from Roberts, once he got past [Cedric] Kipre, and Molumby does seem to collide with Roberts.
“Does he actually take Roberts out? The ball gets away, that touch is heavy there, it gets away from him, and Molumby steps in. There is contact on Roberts.
“I do feel that he does make a bit of a meal of it but he’s certainly caught, is it maybe that exaggerated dive slightly that makes the referee’s mind up that it isn’t a penalty?
“The challenge was a risky one from Molumby and he was slightly fortunate to get away with it but just maybe the way Roberts goes to ground in the end convinces the referee he’s trying to win a penalty rather than actually fouled for one.”
Dean then gave his view in the studio (12.55pm): “No, not for me. The guy has jinked into the box, gone past the defender, kind of dragged his back leg on the floor.
“For me it’s a good decision by Darren Bond the referee, it’s definitely not a penalty that.”
Playing for it
Roberts clearly looked to take advantage of the close proximity to Molumby to drag his foot into him when he likely wouldn’t have tripped if he kept running normally, but it was the sort of decision that probably wouldn’t have been overturned by VAR if given.
It was one of the few major calls that the officials appeared to get right on the day, with the lack of video technology in the Championship a major factor.
Sunderland had a perfectly good goal by Jobe Bellingham ruled out for an offside flag on a player who wasn’t affecting play, and Josh Maja was knocked out of the game by a bad foul from Dan Ballard that was only punished with a booking.
Carlos Corberan would probably have fancied his chances in the second half with a man advantage but down 1-0, and with Maja still fit.
And since it was Ballard who did go on to open the scoring West Brom may well have come away with something more than no points and yet another injury blow had those decisions all been caught.
But the penalty shout would have been a very harsh one that probably did go the right way on another painful afternoon for the Baggies.
In other West Brom news, the takeover “clock is ticking” with £26million in cash possibly gone already.