Paul Heckingbottom admits Sheffield United's 'offside' winner was harsh on Sunderland - but says his side are due a few favourable decisions. Heckingbottom's Blades came from behind to beat the Black Cats 2-1 at the Stadium of Light but there was controversy over Tommy Doyle's winning goal, which came from a free-kick at which three players were standing in offside positions and one of those - Sander Berge - clearly made an attempt to reach the ball, albeit missing it by millimetres.
That was still enough to put off Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson, however, and he could only watch as Doyle's set-piece found the net. Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray said referee Matt Donohue apologised to a member of his coaching staff after the game, but ultimately that meant little as the goal proved decisive.
Former Sunderland defender Heckingbottom, who spent four years on Wearside but did not play a competitive game, smiled: "I thought Sander was getting out of the way of it! Nah, listen, if I'm Tony, I'm claiming for that 100 percent offside.
READ MORE: Tony Mowbray says referee's apology means little as Sunderland suffer consequences of bad decision
"But we're due about another dozen of those, so we want another one of those every game. It's harsh on Tony, and if I'm Tony seeing that...
"But he [Berge] is not blocking the keeper's sight and I don't know the exact Law as to whether he is in an offside position. Any time you are putting a ball across, and we always aim for that goal, it makes it difficult for the keeper because he can't move until the ball has gone past so, regardless of what the Law says, I think it is hard if you're in an offside position because the keeper is never going to move until the ball has gone past you so you're affecting the keeper."
Mowbray was critical of Donohue and his assistants after the game, saying they had done Sunderland a 'disservice'. He said: "It's frustrating. We have got no points, we get nothing for the work.
"I feel we were done a disservice by the officials who should have been better. Somebody asked me whether we should have had a penalty in the first half but I'm not really interested in those little decisions - you get them or you don't get them.
"Goals are what football is about and they have to get them right. It's the incompetence, and that's why we have VAR in the Premier League and around the world so they don't feel they have to make decisions and some guy can watch the replay like I have just done.
"If there had been VAR, I don't think there's even a one percent chance that goal would have stood. Unfortunately, they got it wrong and we have to live with that."
It is by no means the first time that Mowbray has criticised officials this season - with his gripes including everything from big decisions to timekeeping -and the standard of refereeing in the Championship having generally been lamentable. He said: "I sit here after every game and I try my hardest not to criticise the officials but it's really hard because it feels like it is almost every game there's a bit of carnage going on.
"You can't sit and just blame the officials, there are players out there playing football. But I do feel that I can say they got it badly wrong last night.
"Not just that one decision, I thought they had a really tough day - not just the guy in the middle but the guys on the outside as well. I don't want the narrative to be 'Mowbray moans at the officials', but I'm moaning every week because I genuinely don't feel that they are good enough to referee or to take these games.
"One of my staff came out of his [the referee's] office and said he apologised because he got it wrong. Well, are we getting a replay? We don't want a replay, but can we have the point?
"I'll go and see if Hecky will agree to take a point rather than three, eh?"
Edouard Michut had put Sunderland ahead on the half-hour before James McAtee levelled in first half stoppage time, with Doyle's winner coming on the hour.
Defeat left Sunderland 12th in the table, eight points shy of the play-offs, while second-placed Sheffield United tightened their grip on an automatic promotion place as they moved six points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough.
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland need 'a few transfer windows' to close the gap on Sheffield United, says Tony Mowbray
- Sunderland player ratings as Edouard Michut scores his first goal in defeat against Sheffield United
- Offside goal consigns Sunderland to defeat against promotion-chasing Sheffield United
- Mowbray explains why he's playing down Sunderland's play-off challenge
- Tony Mowbray backs campaign to raise funds for ex-Sunderland star John MacPhail
