Jamie Donley’s wonder goal vs Man City ‘should not have stood’ – PGMOL Insider
Man City should not have found themselves a goal down to Leyton Orient in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider Jamie Donley’s stunning strike to open the scoring via Stefan Ortega should have been ruled out for a foul in the build-up.
Pep Guardiola‘s side eventually claimed victory against the League One outfit with a 2-1 win at Brisbane Road on Saturday afternoon (8 February).
That though, was only after Man City were given a major scare in perhaps the most spectacular of circmstances.
With 16 minutes on the clock, Leyton Orient took the lead against the reigning Premier League champions in spectacular style.
Man City left reeling by ‘Harry Kane’ blow
As the ball fell to him just inside the Man City half, Tottenham loanee Donley evoked comparisons with Harry Kane by firing an effort that came off the underside of the crossbar, before bouncing in off Ortega.
The visitors though, believed the attacker had only been able to gain possession due to a foul on Nico Gonzalez – one of the big money January signings at Man City – allowing Donley to run onto the ball.
Now Hackett has questioned how referee Darren Bond did not award a free-kick after Gonzalez was brought to the ground, that would have seen Donley’s goal disallowed.
Keith Hackett makes Man City complaint observation
Speaking to Football Insider about those appeals for a free-kick in the lead-up to that goal for Leyton Orient, the former referee said:
“I find it difficult that the referee doesn’t see that as a foul. I think he’s missed one, or he’s misread. I think Man City in fairness in fairness have a cause for complaint.
“But it’s a long way from goal so I think to actually the fact that [Leyton Orient] have scored and the impact of that foul, whilst it was a foul in my opinion, and the referee’s made an error, I suppose at the end of the day if he’s given a free-kick everything resets, he’s got it wrong.
“He’s played on, incorrectly, wiped out what was a free-kick, and they’ve gone on and scored. Man City’s complaints have foundation. It’s a long way from goal, there’s a lot that can happen.
“But there’s no doubt on a scale of one to ten, I suppose I’d put it at six. If I’m a Man City fan and I’ve seen that foul and it’s not given and they go on and score I want a foul.“
Goals from Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin De Bruyne would see the visitors turn things around to claim a 2-1 win in the second half to ensure Man City progress to the fifth round of the competition.
Leyton Orient meanwhile will now focus on their push to secure a place in the League One play-offs come the end of the season.