Wovles’ defeat against Fulham was compounded by the suspensions their first choice central midfielders will serve against Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Wolves will be without their first choice central midfield for Saturday’s Premier League match against Arsenal after Monday night’s stoppage time defeat against Fulham.
A gut wrenching defeat which again left manager Gary O’Neil bemoaning the standard of officiating and implementation of VAR was compounded by the bookings picked up by Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina.
Both players have been key to the progress Wolves have made in recent weeks but, after collecting their fifth cautions of the season, will not be available for selection against the Premier League leaders.
O’Neil, meanwhile, asked ‘what is the point in VAR?’ after his Wolves side conceded a controversial late penalty during a 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage.
VAR sent referee Michael Salisbury to the screen to award a penalty after Joao Gomes brought Harry Wilson down in the box, Willian scoring his second spot kick of the game to seal all three points for Fulham.
O’Neil highlighted the decisions involving the late penalty, Carlos Vinicius’ alleged headbutt on Max Kilman and why Tim Ream did not receive a second yellow for a foul on Hwang Hee-Chan.
The Wolves boss criticised the decisions during the game and believes VAR has not helped the referee.
Willian’s injury time penalty condemned Wolves to defeat at Craven Cottage (Picture: Getty)
O’Neil said: “I don’t think it’s helped the game, I think the ref would have done a better job on his own. I don’t think VAR helped him but in fact it hindered him.
‘Sending him to the screen for one and not to the other, not advising him there is a headbutt or that Tim Ream should receive a red card. What is the point in VAR?
‘They said they got the Harry Wilson one right (last penalty decision). There’s minimal contact and I don’t think there’s enough.’
More: Trending
O’Neil, who spoke to the referee after the match, also felt aggrieved about Fulham’s first penalty awarded for a foul by Nelson Semedo on Tom Cairney.
He told Sky Sports: “Nelson plays the ball, doesn’t touch Tom Cairney. I watched it back with the referee, and to be fair to him he says he thinks they’ve got that wrong and he should have been sent to the monitor.
‘Doesn’t help me. It doesn’t help all the fans that have travelled all this way to watch the team. Doesn’t help the players who are feeling frustrated again. The Nelson one has pretty much been admitted by the referee that (there was) a mistake.’
MORE : Freddie Ljungberg still fuming that he didn’t win the Champions League with Arsenal
MORE : Arsenal forwards have been ‘average’ this season, says Jamie Carragher
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.