Stockport County manager Dave Challinor has branded the decision to allow Leyton Orient’s opener in their play-off semi final first leg as ‘the worst decision I have seen in 15 years’.
After clinching third place in League One, the Hatters travelled to Leyton Orient hoping to gain an advantage to take back to Edgeley Park next week. However, they suffered a blow on the half hour mark when Charlie Kelman gave the hosts the lead.
Having only half cleared a free kick into the box, Orient headed the ball back towards goal when it was flicked on to Kelman. The attacker latched on to slot home, although replays showed he was yards offside.
Stockport came out fighting in the second half and two goals from Oliver Norwood turned things around. The O’s salvaged a draw late on when Kelman netted his second of the game from the penalty spot.
Challinor Fumes At Decision
Following the O’s first half strike, County players surrounded the referee in protest. Their complaints were justified, with Challinor still clearly angered at the final whistle. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the 49-year-old said:
“That is plain and clearly four yards offside. There could be an argument that they don’t know if the player flicked it on, and that’s fine.
“But we’ve got five officials, and they couldn’t come up with the right decision. They’ve told me they saw the flick-on, and the linesman has no idea who is playing Kelman onside.
“Well, it’s pretty obvious why no one is playing him onside because he’s four yards offside. I have been managing for 15 years.
Well, well…offside? 😳#LOFC #StockportCounty
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“This is the biggest game of my career because I’ve never managed higher than this; that is the worst decision I have seen in 15 years.
“I get it’s a tough job, but they are supposed to be the best we’ve got, and if we can’t rely on them to make those types of decisions, I don’t know what we can do.”
Writer’s View
There’s no defending this decision. It is clearly offside and one can only assume that the linesman hasn’t seen the flick on from the edge of the box. Kelman was onside when the initial ball was played forwards, but not with the second touch. It’s decisions like these that will bring the VAR debate back to the table, especially in season-defining games such as the play-offs. Still, having snatched a draw, Stockport now have something to take back to Edgeley Park next week.
