‘It was a perfectly good goal’ – Whitney frustrated with disallowed Walsall strike

(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)

By Alex Beard

Walsall manager Jon Whitney was left extremely frustrated by referee Tom Nield’s decision to disallow Jon Guthrie’s headed goal in his side’s 1-1 draw with Blackpool on Saturday.

Erhun Oztumer had put the Saddlers in front with a stunning free kick, only for Tangerine’s substitute Viv Solomon-Otabor to level in the second half.

Walsall believed they had won the game with 19 minutes to go when Guthrie steered Joe Edwards’ corner into the net, however a foul on Blackpool ‘keeper Ryan Allsop was given instead.

And Saddlers boss Whitney left the game with little doubt that his team were denied three points: “It was a perfectly good goal and the officials wouldn’t give me an explanation about why it was disallowed,” he told the club’s official website.

“It was a routine we worked on because we saw them as a little bit vulnerable from set-pieces. It should have been a good, legitimate winning goal.

“They were talking about a foul on the ‘keeper but all Tyler [Roberts] is doing is standing his ground.

“Just look at the ‘keeper’s reaction – as the ball goes in the net he’s complaining to his defenders for letting Jon get a free run.

“He’s not even appealing to the referee because he knows they have lost the runner. The timing is great and it’s a perfectly good winning goal – but we didn’t get it.”

Whitney’s Walsall side will be hoping for better luck when they travel to face MK Dons at Stadium mk tomorrow evening.