Former elite-level referee Dermot Gallagher believes Bristol Rovers promotion-winner Elliot Anderson was cruelly denied his first Premier League goal by an inexplicable decision from the video assistant referee (VAR).
Anderson wheeled away in delight as he thought he had put Newcastle United 2-1 up against Nottingham Forest on Friday with a back-post header reminiscent of the all-important seventh goal in the fateful win over Scunthorpe United last season to clinch promotion for the Gas.
However, there was the dreaded delay as VAR Peter Bankes got involved and he eventually instructed referee Paul Tierney to rule the goal out for offside, not against 20-year-old Anderson but his teammate Sean Longstaff in the build-up.
The decision left pundits and fans perplexed as defender Felipe seemed to deliberately hit the ball against Longstaff, which should have reset the offside, and Gallagher told Sky Sports' Ref Watch on Monday Anderson has reason to feel aggrieved.
"I look for the clues and one of the biggest clues was Forest set up to kick-off and they were waiting to kick-off during the delay for the check. I don't see why the VAR got involved because, for me, Felipe clearly goes to kick the ball out for a corner," he said.
"Has the ball travelled from distance? Definitely. Has the player had a clear view? Definitely. Was the ball moving quickly? Not particularly. Was the direction of the ball unexpected? It's come to him, he's gone to intercept the ball. Did he have time to coordinate his body movement? Well, he goes to kick the ball out for a corner which you would expect a defender to do in that position because that his job.
"It ticks all the boxes, he has control of the ball and he's played it, so it's for me it's a goal."
Ultimately, the decision did not influence the result as Alexander Isak scored a late penalty to earn Newcastle a point, but it denied Anderson a deserved moment of joy in front of a jubilant away end.
The playmaker has enjoyed a meteoric rise since joining the Gas on loan 14 months ago. He signed on deadline day and his seven goals and six assists helped f ire Joey Barton's side to promotion from League Two on the final day of the campaign.
As a result, he earned a chance to break into Eddie Howe's first-team squad at St James' Park and he has capitalised, making 12 Premier League appearances as well as featuring briefly at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.
He is also at the centre of an international tug-of-war. He has represented Scotland at under-21 level but he is not in the squad for this week's fixtures with England reportedly keen on securing the services of the Whitley Bay-born talent.
"It should have stood. Very bizarre that it even got to that and it's disappointing it's not been picked up on," was former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock's assessment after Gallagher's explanation.
Fellow panellist Sue Smith, a 93-cap England international, added: "Completely agree with all of that. I was watching and looking at the rules and I still don't get why it's not been given as a goal.
"It's so unfortunate for him. It's a great finish; he does so well when he comes on and he celebrates the goal, as you would, so I still don't understand why it's not a goal."
Newcastle captain Kieran Tripper was devastated for his teammate, but he knows his time will come.
He told the Newcastle Chronicle: "Do you know what? We have a lot of talks, me and Elliot. He's a young lad with so much potential, I really mean that. It's crazy really how good he is. He just needs to be patient and keep working hard as he's been doing.
"I thought he was unbelievable in the second half when he came on. He's got a massive future ahead of him, he just has to keep being patient."
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