Tom Nield ’embarrassed by replays’ after referee shocker in West Brom win vs Swansea
Aune Heggebo could have seen his opening goal ruled out on another day.
On a dramatic day at The Hawthorns, West Brom came from behind to seal a 3-2 victory against Swansea, with Heggebo scoring twice.
Zan Vipotnik and Ethan Galbraith were on the score sheet to give the visitors an early lead, but Heggebo’s early goal in the second half got the Baggies straight back into the game.
However, that goal could easily have been ruled out on another day after an incident in the build-up.
Swansea had a player down for West Brom goal
Heggebo is in excellent form, and with four goals in his last three games, his confidence is going to be through the roof.
Both of his goals were well taken, but in the build-up to his first, Goncalo Franco went down holding his face after a challenge from Chris Mepham, as minor as it was.
Play is usually halted for head injuries, though, for one reason or another, referee Tom Nield failed to stop the game, much to the surprise of Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to West Brom News, the former PGMOL chief said: “It appears to me that the referee has seen the player on the ground but failed to recognise that he is holding his face and allowed play to continue,” Hackett said.
“The outcome was the opposition of the injured player going on to score, leaving the referee embarrassed when he sees the replay.
“When coaching referees, we discuss safety officiating. It would, in this instance, have been appropriate to stop the game and have the injured player attended to by the medics.“
- Read more: West Brom fans rage over ‘shocking’ Nat Phillips after ‘dumbfounding’ incident vs Swansea
What did Ryan Mason say about West Brom comeback?
Ryan Mason has been under pressure at West Brom, and there is every chance that a defeat against the Swans would have been the end for him at The Hawthorns.
However, he lives to see another day, and he has piled the praise on the substitutes who came on and impacted the game for Albion.
As quoted by the Gazette Herald, he said: “When you concede in the first 20 seconds and then the nature of their second goal, it can create a certain feeling.
“We had to try to generate something, and those who came on did an amazing job.”
Saturday’s win means West Brom sit 12th in the Championship, but only four points outside of the play-off spots.
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