Exclusive: Ex-PGMOL chief reacts to Armstrong controversy in West Brom v Blackburn
Adam Armstrong was denied a second West Brom goal in as many games in controversial circumstances against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday.
The on-loan Southampton striker marked his debut with a goal with the 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend and thought he was on target again as the Baggies slipped to a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Rovers at The Hawthorns.
West Brom were already trailing 1-0 to the first of Makhtar Gueye’s match-winning double before the 28-year-old leapt to meet Isaac Price’s corner and nod in against his former club.
However, referee David Webb seemingly spotted a shove on Dominic Hyam and awarded a free-kick to Blackburn Rovers, with Armstrong visibly perplexed.
David Webb told he got Adam Armstrong decision wrong in West Brom v Blackburn
To compound Albion’s misery, Gueye – who could easily have seen red for Blackburn on a frustrating night West Brom – would go on to score a second for Rovers and there was no way back for a Baggies side who are sixth in the Championship, two points ahead of Bristol City.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to West Brom News, called for more training to be given to achieve uniformity on pushing and grappling, and felt Armstrong’s goal should have stood.
“There is no doubt that the PGMOL must work through their coaches to deliver a consistent approach on pushing, grappling and holding,” he said.
“Given what we currently witness this action by the referee comes has a surprise.
“I would not expect this goal to be ruled out.”
West Brom must find consistency
Having scored a dramatic last-gasp winner through Jayson Molumby to sink fellow play-off hopefuls Wednesday last time out, the defeat to Rovers was a real kick in the teeth for Albion.
Tony Mowbray cut an understandably frustrated figure after the game, with his side struggling to build consistent momentum as they look to enshrine their spot in the top six.
But when things aren’t going as you’d hope on the pitch, you need officials to getting the big decisions right and, frankly, this call was extremely soft.
Hackett is right that more needs to be done in order to have a more consistent approach to this type of offence because on another game that goal probably stands and the context of the fixture is completely different.
It’s now three defeats and two wins from the past five for West Brom, though, and Mowbay will be desperate to see more consistency from his team.