Tony Mowbray says referee Matt Donohue's apology for the blunder that cost Sunderland a point against Sheffield United 'does not mean very much'. Black Cats boss Mowbray revealed that Donohue admitted to a member of Sunderland's coaching staff that the Blades' winning goal should not have stood, and it should have been disallowed for offside.
Mowbray was incensed that Tommy Doyle's free-kick goal on the hour was given, as three Sheffield players were standing beyond the Sunderland defence and one of them, Sander Berge, made a clear movement to play the ball. Berge missed it by millimetres but his actions meant he was interfering with play, and yet the linesman did not raise his flag for offside, and Doyle's goal put the visitors 2-1 up at the Stadium of Light and that was how the scoreline remained.
"It would be great if the referee or the linesman could come in here and tell you why they allowed that [second] goal to stand," said Mowbray. "I'm sure you've all seen it because it was a televised game, there were three men offside and one of them went to try and poke it in which means our goalkeeper stands because if he gets a touch...
