Joe Willock’s opening goal against Birmingham created great controversy amid strong questions the ball had crossed the line, with Newcastle going on to win the FA Cup fourth round tie
The FA have confirmed that goal line technology was not in use during Newcastle’s FA Cup fourth round win over Birmingham, Mirror Football can reveal.
Ethan Laird handed the League One side an unexpected lead after only 40 seconds, stabbing home from a corner. Joe Willock then leveled controversially, before Callum Wilson put the visitors ahead two minutes later.
At the end of a wild first half, Tomoki Iwata scored from 25 yards out to tie the game for the hosts. Both teams pushed for a winner after the half, and Newcastle got it when Willock prodded in his second of the night with eight minutes remaining.
However, the midfielder’s first goal made headlines, despite suspicions if it had actually gone in. Bailey Peacock-Farrell, the Blues’ goalkeeper, was caught behind his line after closing down Wilson before the striker crossed for Willock.
However, he appeared to recover and catch the ball before it crossed the line. Nigel Lugg, the assistant referee, immediately began waving his flag to suggest a goal.
While Lugg was certain that the ball had over the line, replays called the verdict into question, causing great confusion. The FA confirmed to Mirror Football that goalline technology was not used at St Andrew’s.
That’s because the technology is only available for the FA Cup at Premier League and Championship clubs’ stadiums. Birmingham is in League One, thus the technology was not employed, despite being in the second division as recently as last season.
It implies that Lugg’s decision was critical, and it resulted in the official coming under fire, with former Everton star Leon Osman saying that everyone was puzzled.
“The assistant referee flagged quite early, as if he had given the goal. “You put the flag across the chest to indicate a goal, but he kept waving it as if he had given an offside or throw,” he told Radio 5 Live.
“It’s just confused everyone.” Newcastle thought they squandered the opportunity, while Birmingham thought they got away with one. That seems awfully close, and it would have been really tough to deliver.”
Willock, meanwhile, preferred to concentrate on his performance rather than the drama surrounding his first goal. He told BBC Sport, “I was just trying to do my best.” It has not been an easy season for me; I’ve been waiting for my chance to advance, and maybe this marks the beginning of the rest of my season.
“These are incredibly exciting times. It’s not an easy location to visit, so we want to thank the fans. Hopefully, we can go one better this time in the Carabao Cup [final] and advance in the competition.”
