Premier League Gameweek 12
Nov 9, 2019 3.00pm
1
1
HT : 0 0
FT
  • Eric Dier 2' yellowcard
  • Son Heung-min 58' goal
  • Juan Foyth 80' yellowcard
  • yellowcard Oliver Norwood 18'
  • goal George Baldock 78'
  • yellowcard Chris Basham 91'

Chris Wilder unhappy with VAR use after Tottenham Hotspur draw

Chris Wilder unhappy with VAR use after Spurs draw

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has hit out at the time it takes to make a decision via VAR following his side's controversial 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon.

The Blades thought that they had equalised just two minutes after falling behind in North London when David McGoldrick tucked home from close range, only for the video assistant to intervene following a lengthy check.

It took three minutes and 47 seconds to rule that John Lundstram's toe was marginally past the line of the last man during the buildup to the goal, although Wilder also questioned whether the goal itself came in a separate phase of play.

The Sheffield United manager acknowledged that technology will likely never leave the game now, but he believes that it needs to be fine-tuned at the end of the season.

"[There is] a bit of confusion from our point of view - when is the reset? People talk about the reset of play so it's gone down the right, John's crossed it, it's come back out and where does it get reset to go again? We've gone and attacked down the left-hand side as well," Wilder told reporters in his post-match press conference.

"The length of that stoppage doesn't do anybody any good, from managers to players to most importantly supporters. But we recover from it - if it is offside it's offside and we have to get on with it and accept it. It's here to aid referees, but it affects the game doesn't it? I think the length it takes, that's the disappointing aspect of it.

"I think you have to go through the process and definitely have a big look at it in the summer. It's going to be here to stay, there's no doubt about that, but I think there is always going to be these sort of issues right the way through so it's going to have to run its course.

"I went to Everton on Sunday to see them play Spurs and the amount of time it took from the Son decision which I thought was pretty straightforward - never a penalty in a million years - that should have been quickly ironed out, and from the Dele Alli one as well, that should have been quickly ironed out.

"But they're going into that much detail and time and depth into it - it's changed the game, which obviously is going to create debate. It seems every press conference on a Thursday and after the game, it's the major talking point. I'm disappointed about that because the main talking point for me today - watching my team go toe-to-toe with a team that were in the Champions League final in their own backyard fills me with immense pride at how they've played with and without the ball, how we've limited the opposition. We never thought we were going to have it all our way, but there was quite a large part of that game that we looked a threat."

The point in North London takes Sheffield United up to fifth in the Premier League table, now nine points clear of the relegation zone.

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