Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett

This was the weekend where a limited number of spectators would be allowed into the grounds to watch games live.

Friday 4 December

ASTON VILLA V NEWCASTLE UNITED – Game Postponed
Referee: Robert Jones
Assistants: Darren Cann, Mark Scholes
Fourth official: Martin Atkinson
VAR: Mike Dean
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday
I have no doubt that Referee Robert Jones will have been looking forward in anticipation of refereeing his second Premier League game.
Sadly, with Newcastle United suffering Covid-19 the game did not go ahead.

Saturday 5 December

BURNLEY V EVERTON Result 1-1
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, James Mainwaring
Fourth official: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Mike Dean
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday
Burnley opened the scoring from a shot by Robbie Brady in the third minute. Referee Taylor applied some shrewd advantages ensuring a good flow to the game.
Burnley were looking for a foul to be awarded in midfield and in fairness, the referee was a few yards away and allowed play to continue.
Everton going on to score an equaliser. Both England goalkeepers Pickford and Pope were in top form in this game under the watchful eye of England Manager Southgate.
Replays of a cry for a foul by Manager Dyche were unfounded Taylor had made the correct decision to allow play to continue.

MANCHESTER CITY V FULHAM Result 2-0
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Assistants: Marc Perry, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Darren Bond
VAR: Graham Scott
Assistant VAR: Matthew Wilkes
City opened the scoring after four minutes with a strike from Sterling who in the usual manner played a positive role in the game. He does have a reputation for going to ground to easily and with the slightest of touch that brushed his knee he went to ground. Moss pointing to the penalty mark and VAR confirming his decision. I have to say if I had given that during my active career, I would have been heavily criticised.
City took a 2-0 lead with Bruyne showing how spot kicks should be executed,
Areola the Fulham goalkeeper pulled off some good saves but frankly Fulham need to strengthen their team in the January window,

WEST HAM UNITED V MANCHESTER UNITED Result 1-3
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: Simon Long, Eddie Smart
Fourth official: Andy Madley
VAR: Lee Mason
Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes
The home team scored early in the game but when checked by VAR it was correctly ruled out for offside.
West Ham then hit the post before eventually taking a well-deserved lead. They did squander other chances.
Manchester United then scored with a terrific shot with Moyes stood on the touchline screaming that the ball had gone out of play. This should have been spotted by the Assistant whose focus was looking to see if players were offside. VAR does not have the technology to help. Later that evening Match of the Day used their technology to confirm that the ball was well out of play. This was a rare error by the official to miss this.

In the second half, Manchester United brought on substitutes Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes who changed the game completely, Greenwood controlled the ball brilliantly and turned and his shot went into goal.
Rashford having missed one chance, did not fail with his second opportunity and Manchester United won 3-1.

CHELSEA V LEEDS UNITED Result 3-1
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Simon Beck, Scott Ledger
Fourth official: Simon Hooper
VAR: Michael Oliver
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis
Leeds Calvin Philips put through a great pass for former Chelsea player Patrick Bamford in the 4th minute of the game who dispatched it into the net.

Chelsea failed to score from a corner kick when the ball was headed onto Timo Warner who from less than a yard out made a complete mess failing to take his chance.
Giroud then opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 27th minute. The home side scored a second from a corner kick set piece and some poor defending by the away team. Chelsea’s third was scored in added time.

Sunday 6 December

WEST BROMWICH ALBION V CRYSTAL PALACE 1-5
Referee: Paul Tierney
Assistants: Ian Hussin, Harry Lennard
Fourth official: Darren England
VAR: Michael Oliver
Assistant VAR: Simon Bennett
This was Crystal Palace’s best result away from home in all senior competitions. The facts are that the whole match hinged on the dismissal of West Brom’s Costa Pereira in the 34th minute.

I believe that Referee Tierney was in a good position to view the incident and I support fully his yellow card. The West Brom player ended on the ground with his opponent looking over him. He certainly straightened his legs to get off the ground. In doing so, he caught his opponent and his actions were reckless.

VAR Michael Oliver decided to intervene. Initially, he must ask himself if it was a clear and obvious error. It was not but as we have seen in other games he asks Tierney to view the monitor. In an interview earlier in the week, David Elleray put over the view of the IFAB on clear and obvious. He also made it clear that he wanted referees to show courage.

That walk to the monitor is resulting in referees glancing at the screen and going with VAR. Paul Tierney on this should have stuck to his original decision of a yellow card not red. Referees must show courage.

SHEFFIELD UNITED V LEICESTER CITY SCORE 1-2
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Neil Davies
Fourth official: Peter Bankes
VAR: David Coote
Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton
Perez opened the scoring for Leicester in the 24th minute and one wondered if the bottom club would capitulate.
However, that is not the situation with Chris Wilder teams and within two minutes McBurnie levelled the score.

The main talking point was centred around Sheffield United’s number 13 Lowe fouling his opponent minutes after receiving a yellow card. It was a CAUTIONABLE offence but Referee Attwell did not reach for his card and Lowe was a lucky guy to stay on. Chris Wilder confirmed this view by sensible substituting Lowe at halftime.

The game was even until Jamie Vardy popped up with a winner. Sheffield United played with a high defensive line and were vulnerable to a quick break.
It came when United’s Fleck near the halfway line takes a poor touch, Vardy sprints towards goal and scores. Vardy really is a ‘local boy done good’. However, his celebration of a slide and kicking out at the corner flag which he breaks does not look good.
Attwell should not have needed reminding that a corner flag is mandatory and that the kick-off should have been delayed until it was replaced.

I thought Attwell officiated the game well.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V ARSENAL SCORE 2-0
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Adam Nunn, Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth official: Andre Marriner
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR: Dan Cook
The opening goal by Tottenham’s Son was special. Receiving a pass from Kane he dribbled the ball towards goal, looked up and produced a curling shot into goal leaving the goalkeeper with no chance of saving. They went in 2-0 up after Kane scored just before half time.
Whilst in the second half Arsenal had plenty of possession but were unable to convert it to goals.
Martin Atkinson had a brilliant first half, accurate decision-making, excellent communication. He is clearly our best referee now.

LIVERPOOL V WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Lee Betts, Richard West
Fourth official: Andy Madley
VAR: Jonathan Moss
Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan
We witnessed a good use of VAR in this game. Connor Coady of Wolves went to ground and Referee Pawson pointed to the penalty mark. On this occasion, VAR correctly intervened it WAS a clear and obvious error.
After a review of the pitchside monitor, Craig Pawson correctly overturned his penalty kick decision.
However if we are to stop players attempting to deceive referees then Coady should have received a yellow card for a clear act of simulation.

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