Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
REFEREE PERFORMANCE REVIEW PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK 17
Before I commence my review, I want to highlight the performance of a young referee in the Sheffield Wednesday vs Derby County game.
Matthew Donohue, a young referee from the North West, delivered a terrific performance, his movement and positioning was excellent, His management of players through good communication was a strength.
The only area that I would coach him to improve would be to delay the whistle slightly when he sees a foul to determine if an advantage might accrue.
Well done, clearly a referee that has the potential to advance onto the Premier League.
FRIDAY JANUARY 1ST 2021
EVERTON V WEST HAM UNITED Result 0-1
Referee: Kevin Friend. Assistants: Simon Beck, Eddie Smart. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Simon Hooper. Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton.
Kevin Friend delivered a sound performance officiating two teams who wanted to play. The winning goal came in the closing minutes of the game giving the away team a deserved win. A good start to the year for the team of officials.
MANCHESTER UNITED V ASTON VILLA Result 2-1
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett. Fourth official: Darren England. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Lee Betts.
The major talking point in this game was the award of a penalty kick to the home team. Referee Oliver was in a good position to judge the challenge and did not hesitate to point to the penalty mark.
Whilst VAR confirmed it was the correct decision, the referee had not made a clear and obvious error so a silent check would have been sufficient action by the VAR Tierney.
Oliver once again delivered a sound performance, but many will voice their view that Oliver got it wrong.
The learning point here for young referees is to view the physical effort that the referee applied to ensure that he was near the action.
SATURDAY 2ND JANUARY
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V LEEDS UNITED Result 3-0
Referee: David Coote. Assistants: Lee Betts, Nick Hopton. Fourth official: Graham Scott. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Matthew Wilkes.
The big decision in the game was the award of a penalty kick to the home team. Referee Coote was in a good position to judge, a major part of the body of the Spurs attacking player was inside the penalty area and on the line (which is part of the penalty area).
However, there were some parts of the player’s foot outside the area and this stimulated the debate and disagreement of many Leeds United fans on social media. I have looked closely at the incident and would support the referee’s decision.
Tottenham can have no complaints when Matt Doherty was shown a second yellow followed by a red. You cannot commit reckless challenges and get away with them.
It was good to see Coote applying some dynamic sprints to maintain contact with play.
Once again in this game, we saw how Kane and Son are such a good attacking force, Tottenham were the deserved winners.
CRYSTAL PALACE V SHEFFIELD UNITED Result 2-0
Referee: Stuart Attwell. Assistants: Marc Perry, Peter Kirkup. Fourth official: Keith Stroud. VAR: Andre Marriner. Assistant VAR: Richard West.
These continue to be difficult times for Sheffield United, who face an uphill struggle to hold onto their Premier League position. They do not have the same motivation and desire that we witnessed last season and Palace were comfortable winners.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder continues to show resilience, something that is not easy for someone who has been used to winning throughout his career.
Referee Attwell showed good movement and sound decision making throughout the duration of the game, He can be happy with his performance today
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION VS WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS Result 3-3
Referee: Andy Madley Assistants: Marc Perry, Peter Kirkup Fourth Official: Keith Stroud. VAR Andre Marriner Assistant VAR: Richard West.
Referee Andy Madley awarded two penalty kick decisions in the game, both were correct calls. I cannot understand why, when he is running towards the penalty area following play, he stops some 10-15 yards from the penalty area line. He needs some coaching to ensure that any decisions in the penalty area that he must make are ‘sold’ more positively. Look at Oliver and Atkinson who squeeze play. I would also get him to increase the number of sprints at speed.
The game was enjoyable and a 3-3 draw was a fair result.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION V ARSENAL Result 0-4
Referee: Martin Atkinson. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Harry Lennard. Fourth official: Darren England. VAR: Jonathan Moss. Assistant VAR: Stephen Child.
Another terrific performance from our current number one referee Martin Atkinson. It is a joy to watch his movement in open play and set pieces, His application of dynamic sprints to ensure he maintains contact with play is an example that all young referees aspiring to get to the top should follow.
West Brom are struggling and their new manager Sam Allardyce has a lot of work to do to keep this team in the Premier League.
SUNDAY 3RD JANUARY
BURNLEY V FULHAM 12:00 – Postponed due to Covid-19
Referee: Craig Pawson. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Michael Oliver. VAR: Graham Scott. Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood.
Burnley secured new owners in the week so it will be interesting to see if they go out and strengthen the squad.
NEWCASTLE UNITED V LEICESTER CITY Result 1-2
Referee: Robert Jones. Assistants: Mark Scholes, Derek Eaton. Fourth official: Martin Atkinson. VAR: Lee Mason. Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.
Following a poor performance in his last game, the Referee needed to deliver a game without controversy. To his credit, he did that and remained alert and accurate with his decision making.
Leicester City went two up and Andy Carroll came on in the second half to score for the hosts. Leicester City were comfortable winners.
CHELSEA V MANCHESTER CITY Result 1-3
Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Peter Bankes. VAR: Mike Dean. Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.
Referee Taylor was alert in the opening minutes of the game to detect and correctly sanction the pass back to the goalkeeper with an indirect free kick. However, the restart was incorrect as the restart been taken outside the penalty area.
Manchester City opened the scoring with a turn and shot on goal by Gundogan. Three minutes later the visitors went two up with a goal by Foden. They went in at half time three -nil up dominating the first half.
The second half passed without incident Chelsea getting a goal.
Additional comments:
Appointments
Christmas and New Year is a demanding period for everyone in football. Match officials have to do a lot of driving and their recovery and preparation for the next game is vital. Covid-19 must also make life more difficult for match officials.
VAR
There has been a clear shift in how VAR is operated over the holiday period with a large number of games.
It is evident that they are now operating in line with VAR criteria by only getting involved in CLEAR AND OBVIOUS ERRORS. I would however like them to move towards operating VAR in line with how PRO are operating it on the MLS.
Keith Hackett
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