MICAH RICHARDS has admitted Manchester City were lucky to see their last-gasp winner against Wolves count.
There was major controversy in the 95th minute when John Stones powered in a header from a corner to put the champions 2-1 up.
But as the centre-back ran away celebrating, the officials decided to chalk off the goal offside due to Bernardo Silva’s interference.
He was judged to have been impeding Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa as the ball travelled into the box.
The stopper pushed him away and by the time Stones headed the ball, Silva had moved clear of Sa and ducked out the way.
But following a VAR review, the referees decided the goal should stand because the City star was no longer in the way of the Wolves No1 as the ball travelled towards goal.
An on-field review saw Chris Kavanagh go over to the monitor and then award the goal.
There was huge complaints from the Wolves players, who remain bottom of the table with just one point after the defeat.
And City cult hero and Sky Sports pundit Richards admitted his old club were fortunate to pick up all three points.
He said: “I would like to see the goal given for this because I do not think there is too much contact.
“But the fact of the matter is that he is still in the keeper’s way so it has effected the play.
“I think we go back the word ‘consistency’. I have seen them given and I have sometimes not.
“It is just that nudge that sends him [Sa] off balance and then he is not set, so I understand why Wolves feel aggrieved in this particular moment.”
Fellow pundit Daniel Sturridge added: “That used to be my role to be fair and Bernardo has played it perfectly.
“As the header has gone into the back of the net, he is off the goalkeeper.
“So it’s almost like ‘I’ve done my job guys, but I have not impacted him’.
“But for me, I do believe he has impacted the goalkeeper, slightly, if I am being honest.
“He has had to push him away and then go back on his line to set himself.”
The Premier League released a statement trying to clear up the controversy and it read: “Stones’ goal was disallowed on-field due to Bernardo Silva being in an offside position and in the goalkeeper’s line of vision.
“The VAR deemed Bernardo Silva wasn’t in the line of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper and recommended an on-field review.
“The referee overturned his original decision and a goal was awarded.”
