28 December 2023 , 09:33
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Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson might have been left fuming at officials after his side were beaten at Chelsea but there was at least one refereeing moment that left everyone laughing.
It was the hosts who prevailed 2-1 as Noni Madueke scored an 89th minute winner from the penalty spot. That came after VAR had adjudged Eberechi Eze to have fouled the England Under-21 international in the area, a call that Hodgson was scathingly critical of in his post-match press conference.
And he would have been angrier still had referee Michael Salisbury not comically reversed a red card to one of his players. During the second half, Palace defender clipped the heels of Christopher Nkunku from behind as the French attacker broke upfield.
The American had not previously been cautioned in the game, but his heart would have been in his mouth when he looked up to the official pulling a red card from his pocket. Before he could brandish it however, Salisbury realised his error.
As he burst out laughing, the referee duly put the red back and duly showed a yellow one instead. Acknowledging his error, he held up to his left hand to Richards by form of apology, and was still smiling as he turned his attention to the subsequent Chelsea free-kick.
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It was a rare light-hearted moment when it comes to the officiating in the Premier League this season, with headlines thus far dominated by the inconsistencies of VAR. But the late penalty call would prove pivotal, handing a welcome win to Mauricio Pochettino's side.
Referee Michael Salisbury smiled as he swapped a red card for yellowChelsea deservedly led in the 13th minute after Malo Gusto teed up Mykhailo Mudryk to score from close range. The Eagles levelled just before half-time when Michael Olise brought down Jordan Ayew's cross and fired a low shot home.
It appeared the Blues were going to be made to pay for another wasteful display when 77 minutes in, Nicolas Jackson had seemingly grabbed a winner only for VAR to deem him offside. But 12 minutes later the technology was kinder to Pochettino's side, who now go 10th in the table.
"The Premier League is really tough and we need to be consistent," the Argentinian said afterwards. "The first half of the season has been really up and down and it's been tough and difficult. But we're positive and we need to show that we can compete."