Alan Shearer says referee Anthony Taylor made a critical mistake in Leicester City’s 3-2 come-from-behind win at Southampton on Saturday.
Storm clouds appeared to be gathering when Steve Cooper’s team fell 2-0 behind at St Mary’s, in a match billed by some as key to the relegation battle.
However, the Foxes hit back in stunning fashion, as Facundo Buonanotte, Jamie Vardy and Jordan Ayew struck to give City their second successive Premier League win. But before Vardy’s equaliser, from the penalty spot after he was pulled back by Ryan Fraser, Southampton had their own claim for a spot-kick.
With his side leading 2-1 Saints forward Paul Onuachu clearly had his shirt tugged by Ayew only for the incident to go unpunished. Wrongly so in Shearer’s opinion.
Shearer, a former Southampton striker, told Match of the Day: “Absolutely, two minutes before that, Ayew on Onuachu. I mean the word we’re hearing is Anthony Taylor said he saw the holding but it was with no consequence. It was deemed he’s not impacted play.
“Just have a look how long Ayew has got hold of him for. He’s got hold of him for about five seconds, which means he has to be impacting play. So there has to be a consequence because if he’s not holding him, there’s every chance he’s going to challenge for that ball. If he hasn’t got hold of him, he’s going to go and try and get on the end of that, he may even get there before the goalkeeper. I think that’s a really poor decision, both from the referee and VAR.”
Gary Lineker agreed: “Even if Leicester fan, I would say that as well.”
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