What did Sunderland boss make of controversial decisions in Fulham defeat? Fuming Chris Coleman reacts

Chris Coleman slammed the officials after Sunderland's 2-1 defeat to Fulham, a result which confirms they will finish bottom of the Championship.
Chris Coleman at Craven Cottage. Picture by Frank Reid.Chris Coleman at Craven Cottage. Picture by Frank Reid.
Chris Coleman at Craven Cottage. Picture by Frank Reid.

Joel Asoro gave the Black Cats the lead with a smart finish into the bottom left corner and Sunderland should have been awarded a penalty moments before Fulham equalised.

Liverpool loanee Ovie Ejaria was fouled by Tim Ream but referee Peter Bankes waved play on, 60 seconds later Fulham went up the other end and equalised in the 45th minute through Lucas Piazon’s low finish.

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Newcastle loanee Aleksandar Mitrovic nodded in the winner from a free-kick in the 76th minute but replays showed he was offside.

Coleman said: “It was a penalty for Ejaria, it isn’t even a tough call. And Fulham’s second goal is a yard offside and right in line with the yardsman.

“Fair play to whoever is in charge of the TVs here, they played it on the big screen - mind they quickly took it off. It wasn’t even a tough call.

“We haven’t been relegated because of referees. We have been relegated because we haven’t been good enough. You still want the right calls though, it still means something to us.

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“I was disappointed with that. Some of the calls we have had [this season] have been astonishing.

“Too many games we have been under par and poor but you still want the right call made. They are not difficult calls, I know it is hard, the game is fast and the atmosphere was good, there was so much on it for Fulham.

“It is an obvious decision. We need a bit of help from the referee, we don’t need it to be against us. It wasn’t on purpose, he just called it wrong.”