Ally McCoist has suggested that there was no foul on Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka for Wolves’ 95th minute equaliser on Monday night.
The Slovakian goalkeeper jumped for a cross with Wanderers centre-back Willy Boly but was beaten to the ball in the air, leaving the centre-back with an easy header.
Boly did put his hands on the stopper, but McCoist has disputed claims that he impeded him.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “I’m going to give you my ten pence worth, I don’t think it’s a foul.
“I understand the frustration from Rafa Benitez because his side are literally seconds away from victory, which would have been a vital, vital three points.
“I just think Willy Boly gets up a little bit earlier, Dubravka can’t handle it and I actually think it’s a good decision from the referee.”
McCoist: "I don't think it's a foul."@Dallaglio8: "The 'keeper's made a mistake."
Ally & Lawrence think #NUFC boss Benitez is wrong to claim #WWFC's goal shouldn't have stood.
Did Boly foul Dúbravka? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/PxdGDpgzmD
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 12, 2019
OPINION
McCoist is right on this one. Fundamentally, Dubravka has misjudged the flight of the ball and failed to get himself off the ground in enough time to properly deal with the challenge from Boly. It is a mistake on the part of the goalkeeper, and he will know that better than anybody. Still, it was an interesting decision from the referee not to give the foul, especially in an era of such high levels of protection for stoppers. Most times you will see a foul given for any kind of contact with a goalkeeper, but there is a strong argument to be made that that shouldn’t be the case. It is one thing if a keeper is in mid air and is clattered by an attacker, or if an attacker impedes a keeper getting off the ground entirely, but in a fair challenge, where a goalkeeper has the height advantage of two outstretched arms, there is no reason why an incident like the one on Monday night should be a foul.
