Sunderland AFC news: EFL pundits slams Sander Berge offside decision against Sheffield United

Despite some early pressure, the Black Cats took the lead when Edouard Michut scored his first goal for the club with 30 minutes played. The hosts equalised on the stroke of half-time, though, when Manchester City loanee James McAtee found space in the box and converted with a low finish.

Another City loanee then scored the winner as Tommy Doyle’s free-kick went straight in just after the hour mark which looked to be very much offside with Sander Berge interfering with play. Replays showed the goal shouldn’t have stood with former Sunderland man Stephen Elliott also agreeing with McAnuff.

"It should've been called offside," McAnuff told Sky Sports following the game at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday. "We've spoken about it just in terms of the delivery goes into the area but the minute that Sander Berge makes an attempt at that cross coming in.

"You can see him there in an offside position and the letter of the law is that he should be flagged offside. They are the big ones in these tight games that you're hoping between them, and that is both the referee and his assistant, to try and get these decisions right.

"Clearly the referee has not seen it, and that's the reason he hasn't given it. But it's very frustrating when you've come out of a hard-fought game and that's basically what has decided it."