Wolves manager Gary O’Neil claimed that Premier League referees own unconscious bias towards the top six after a controversial late John Stones winner for Manchester City.
Stones headed home in the fifth minute of stoppage time, with Wolves adamant that Bernardo Silva was interfering with goalkeeper Jose Sa from Phil Foden’s corner.
Pep Guardiola insisted that Sa ‘was watching the action perfectly’ but O’Neil was left frustrated that VAR suggested Chris Kavanagh give the goal.
Wolves believe they had a goal disallowed in similar circumstances against West Ham in April, when Tawanda Chirewa was stood in front of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
‘There is no chance that people are doing things against Wolves on purpose,’ O’Neil said. ‘But is there something in the subconscious? Are you more likely to give it to Man City than Wolves?
Gary O’Neil claims Premier League referees may be unconsciously biased towards the top six
John Stones’ last-gasp header secured Manchester City a controversial victory at Molineux
‘My senses are heightened when we’re against Pep. Are the officials the same? They guarantee me there isn’t [bias] but they are human. Maybe there is something subconscious that means we’re less likely to get them.
‘If I had to upset someone in a street and there was a little guy and a big guy, I’m upsetting the little guy. Nothing against little guys. But there is something in there and they [referees] definitely don’t do it on purpose.
‘What sprung to me quickly was the West Ham game last year. We sent clear evidence he wasn’t in the line of vision of the goalkeeper.
‘The reason we were told it was disallowed is proximity. Silva doesn’t end up in his line of vision but he can’t get much closer. I was hoping the same reasoning would be used to disallow it.’
City had fought back from a goal down to make sure they capitalised fully on Arsenal’s defeat at Bournemouth in the title race. Despite waiting until deep into stoppage time to seal a victory and a run of conceding the first goal, Guardiola maintained that his team are performing to the standards required.
O’Neil was incensed after Bernardo Silva was not adjudged to have impeded Jose Sa
Stones wheeled away to celebrate and a VAR check awarded the stoppage-time goal
Haaland was covered in the blanket of three Wolves defenders – space manufactured that was not then occupied by City midfielders – and Guardiola remarked that the opposition low blocks are becoming more difficult to break down.
‘I disagree, we played really good,’ Guardiola said. ‘I had the opinion that it was an excellent performance. We had to be so patient.
‘We talk a lot these days about what defines us as a team: we take it to the opponent, it doesn’t matter what happens.
‘Teams play four in the back, (but) when they play against us they play five at the back, they have holding midfielders, not just close but holding hands with the central defenders. So what do you need? A special action. Today we were close to drawing and in the end we were lucky to win the game.’
Guardiola jokingly suggested that City may think about changing their tactics to provoke a complete stalemate against teams attempting to spoil matches.
Pep Guardiola praised his side’s display but admitted breaking down low blocks is difficult
He also conceded City were ‘lucky’ to win the game after Stones’ dramatic rescue act
‘The solution is the way we played today, basically to stay a lot in the positions and not become crazy, otherwise they make transitions and punish you,’ Guardiola added.
‘It’s the only way I think. The other option is to say, OK, you don’t come? I don’t come. We’ll stay with Ederson, and then who decides to come? That will be so difficult for our spectators.
‘Imagine Ruben has the ball and says, “OK I don’t attack”, stay there. What would happen? I don’t know what would happen but it would be a problem.’
