‘The referee seemed…’: Craig Dawson gives his honest take on Luton’s penalty award

Wolves’ 1-1 draw with Luton as come under the microscope for a couple of controversial incidents.

In the first-half, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was shown a red card for kicking out at Tom Lockyer while the pair were in the ground.

The Frenchman was tangled, and pushed the Luton captain away without too much force.

While Lockyer’s reaction was extremely theatrical, Bellegarde perhaps could have too many complaints – it is something you just can’t do.

That put Wolves up against it in the game. But Pedro Neto’s moment of brilliance put the visitors ahead.

But Wolves’ lead was short-lived, when a penalty was awarded against Joao Gomes for handball.

And after the game, defender Craig Dawson gave his view of the decision…

Craig Dawson gives verdict on penalty decision in Luton vs Wolves

Wolves fans are aggrieved because the ball ricocheted off Gomes’ leg and onto his arm.

Danny Murphy blasted the decision on Match of the Day.

And the likes of Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have both questioned the call.

 

After the game, Dawson also gave his thoughts. And it was a typically professional answer from the 32-year-old. He said (via Wolves official): “It’s a tough call. The referee seemed to make a quick decision and the VAR was even quicker, so it’s disappointing for us. Hopefully in the future we will get a decision going our way.

 

“The referees obviously know the rules better than me. It’s a tough one. I think he’s reaching for the ball and his arm is up in the air. I think it touches about three body parts before it hits his arm, but I’d like to think in future we’ll get a decision like that.”

 

Wolves stung again

Perhaps referee Josh Smith genuinely did not see the ball cannon off Gomes leg first.

 

But you then expect the VAR to jump in and make the right call.

 

It should not have been a penalty kick. Gomes’ body position was natural because of the he was lunging. Of course his arm was outstretched.

The ball would not have hit the arm had it not hit the leg first.

 

It’s another terrible call and many Wolves are simply tired of this kind of thing happening continuously.