The Sky Sports pundits weighed in on Wolves’ controversial late penalty during their draw with Rovers on the opening night.
Ryan Alebiosu was penalised for stopping Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross with his arm and referee Farai Hallam pointed to the spot.
While Alebiosu could have few complaints about the handball call, there was plenty of debate over whether the defender was inside the box.
Ex-Birmingham and Derby defender Curtis Davies wasn’t convinced that the officials made the right call.
“It’s difficult. We see the ref’s position, we see where Ryan is and Ryan is on the outside of the box,” he said during Sky’s post-match analysis.
“The fact that the ref makes the decision to give it – in my opinion – it’s a bigger decision to give it than not. We haven’t got the luxuries of the (VAR) replays and we are still not sure.
“But the fact that his whole body is outside the box, you would think the referee would maybe see that first. However, he has given the decision.”
Former Reading winger Jobi McAnuff had a similar view of the incident and felt there wouldn’t have been too many complaints had the referee awarded a free kick instead.
“I’m looking at that now, the referee has to be sure. It’s such a big call at a critical time of the game, and I don’t think you can be sure from where he is,” he added.
“You look at his position, I just think he has almost had a guess. He feels it’s obviously inside the box but there is no way he can be sure there.
“I just think it’s such a big call and Curtis has hit the nail on the head. If he doesn’t give it as a penalty and just gives it as a free kick outside (the box), I don’t think anyone around here sort of looks at it and thinks anything different of it.”
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