Manchester City drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night but the Blues felt they should have had at least one penalty.
Manchester City should have been awarded a penalty during their 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, according to former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher. The Blues twice led thanks to Antoine Semenyo and Rodri but were pegged back by Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson.
City felt they should have had a spot kick in the second half. Erling Haaland looked to have been brought down by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels as he burst through on goal. However, referee Darren England said no and the decision was not overturned by VAR. Reviewing the incident on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, former Premier League official Gallagher felt the on-field call was incorrect.
“If I were a forward and pushed the ball past the ‘keeper like that and the ‘keeper hits me and doesn’t get the ball, then I would expect a penalty,” he said. “The forward’s pushed the ball away, the ‘keeper hasn’t got it, he’s gone to ground and he’s got to get the ball, and he doesn’t.”
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After the game, City captain Bernardo Silva was critical of the referees. “We’re quite used to it this season because all 50/50s have gone against us,” the midfielder told TNT Sports. “It’s the reality.
“I’ve just watched, for example, the Erling incident and, for me, it’s a penalty. Some might have a different opinion. What can Erling do? As I said, we’re used to it. We know how it works. For us, our job is just to be better because these things we cannot control.
“What we can control is our own performances and that’s what we need to focus on.” Despite the decision costing City points, Pep Guardiola did not use it as an excuse.
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He said: “I always believe that we have to do it much better so the officials don’t intervene. It’s our responsibility to do it better, we don’t rely on them. Nothing more to say, I said it in the past.”
Gallagher also evaluated City’s appeals for another penalty when Rodri and Anderson collided in the Forest box. But on this occasion, he felt England was right.
“l actually think it’s a foul by the City player because he catches him,” the Sky Sports pundit said. “He boots him, doesn’t he? For me, it’s not a foul.”