Dean Ashton reacts to footage of Norwich City controversy as West Brom win 2-1
Norwich “definitely” should have had a penalty during their Championship clash with West Brom on Saturday (29 April), according to pundit Dean Ashton.
The Baggies ran out 2-1 winners at The Hawthorns, with goals from Conor Townsend and Jed Wallace coming after the opener from Josh Sargent.
But Ashton believes the visitors were denied a clear penalty in the second half when Semi Ajayi seemed to foul Gabriel Sara inside the box.
“Having looked at it again, Ajayi definitely trods on Sara’s foot,” Ashton said on ITVX’s English Football League Highlights. “And the referee is right there, doesn’t feel it’s enough, but for me it’s definitely a penalty, he trods right on his foot.
“And that’s early on in the second half. They didn’t play that well, Norwich. They created chances, but these moments could be key right at this end of the season when you want to keep the season going.”
Massive moment
The penalty claim was not only a massive moment for the match result, but also for the season as a whole, with the Baggies taking full advantage of the decision by taking all three points from the game.
The win means Carlos Corberan’s men still have a chance of reaching the Championship play-offs, with the Albion now just two points off Millwall in sixth.
All hopes would have been ended had Norwich been handed a penalty and scored from the spot, but the home fans will be overjoyed that the referee decided not to point to the spot.
But the away fans will be enraged by the lack of penalty given, with contact definitely made between Ajayi and Sara.
The West Brom players meanwhile will have already moved on from the huge victory as they look toward the final match of the season when they travel to Swansea on Monday (8 May).
They will need to rely on favours from other clubs to help push them into the top six, but getting the job done against the Swans should be priority number one for Corberan.