CHERRIES boss Gary O’Neil had “no real complaints” after Cherries saw a penalty appeal turned down against Chelsea, saying it was “maybe a foul”.
With the scores level at 1-1 following Mati Vina’s stunning equaliser that cancelled out Conor Gallagher’s opener, there was a hearty shout from Cherries for a penalty in the 67th minute.
Striker Dominic Solanke appeared to have nipped in ahead of Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, knocking the ball past the Brazilian before being taken out.
Late goals from Benoit Badiashile and substitute Joao Felix swung the game in the Blues’ favour for their first win in seven games.
Whilst the incident was checked by Video Assistant Referee David Coote, there was not deemed to be a clear and obvious error made by on field ref John Brooks in not deciding to not point to the spot, the key criteria for overturning decisions.
Cherries are the only side in the Premier League yet to be awarded a spot-kick, whilst Chelsea have managed to avoid giving a single penalty away this campaign.
Asked for his thoughts on the incident, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I thought it was a tight one.
“I thought Thiago Silva doesn't get the ball, so Dom manages to take a touch before he gets there.
“But Dom does take his touch backwards. So it looks maybe different to some that we're used to seeing, where the forward takes his touch forwards.
“Then there is a bit of contact between Silva and Dom. So technically maybe a foul.
“Outside the penalty area, maybe a foul, but the fact that it wasn't given on field meant it was obviously never going to be overturned.
“So, yeah, we'd have probably needed that one to being given and then it maybe would have been upheld.
“But, yeah, no real complaints. I thought it was one that it could it or not (be a penalty).”
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