'Fuming' - TalkSPORT pundit reacts to 'absolute chaos' in Brighton loss vs West Brom

TalkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy has argued that Brighton have every right to be “fuming” with referee Lee Mason after they had a goal disallowed during their 1-0 defeat to West Brom.
Lewis Dunk of Brighton and Referee Lee Mason. (Photo by Peter Powell - Pool/Getty Images)Lewis Dunk of Brighton and Referee Lee Mason. (Photo by Peter Powell - Pool/Getty Images)
Lewis Dunk of Brighton and Referee Lee Mason. (Photo by Peter Powell - Pool/Getty Images)

The Seagulls thought they had equalised against the Baggies when a quickly-taken Lewis Dunk free-kick caught goalkeeper Sam Johnstone off-guard.

Mason initially let the goal stand before deliberating for a lengthy period with his VAR team and eventually deciding that he had not blown the whistle prior to the ball being kicked.

After a period of confusion, the strike was chalked off.

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Reflecting on the bizarre incident during an appearance on talkSPORT, Murphy admitted that he would have been left incensed by the shambolic episode.

He said: “When I got in the Premier League and started taking free-kicks referees were much more reluctant to let you get on with it. It was, ‘Wait for the whistle, wait for the whistle’.

"I used to speak to referees before the game and ask how they were on quick free-kicks. They used to say, ‘As long as we’ve got eye contact and I give you the nod, you can go’.

"In the Premier League it became more difficult to do because I think referees – obviously the crowds are bigger, the cameras are there – I think they used to think they’d get in trouble or it it’s not the right thing to do. But it should be because the advantage should always be to the team that has the free-kick.

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"The one on Saturday was bizarre because you can obviously see he says, ‘Can I take it?’, ‘Yes’, and he blows the whistle. He couldn’t hide behind the fact that he hadn’t blown the whistle because a few times in my career the ref said, ‘Yeah, but I haven’t blown the whistle’. He actually blew the whistle.

"Then he had that panicky moment where he’s gone, ‘Oh no, the keeper’s still on his post’ and he’s blown it again.

"Furthermore, he’s then gone and give the goal, then they’ve taken it away.

"It was absolute chaos, and I completely understand Brighton and Lewis Dunk’s frustration. I would be fuming.”