Doncaster hero 'lucky to be on pitch' to deliver Hull City upset - Ex-PGMOL chief
01/13/2025 10:52 AM
Doncaster Rovers goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe was fortunate not to be sent off before saving a crucial penalty in his side’s FA Cup upset win over Hull City, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the position of the covering defenders may have saved the goalkeeper after he brought down Abu Kamara as the last man.
It was a memorable day for the League Two side as they knocked out their Championship opponents to secure a place in the fourth round of the competition.
Sharman-Lowe proved to be one of the heroes for Doncaster when he saved from Hull defender Alfie Jones in sudden death in a penalty shooutout, allowing Harry Clifton to score a winning spot-kick.
Hackett though, feels that the goalkeeper was lucky not to have been sent off for a contentious moment before the tie had even got to extra time.
Hull City unlucky not to face ten men in Doncaster defeat
Having fallen behind to their visitors at the MKM Stadium, the Tigers equalised with ten minutes of normal time remaining as Gustavo Puerta fired home on the rebound to make it 1-1.
Hull then looked as though would have a clear chance to win the game, when Kamara got in behind the Doncaster defence to go through one-on-one with Sharman-Lowe.
The goalkeeper – who is currently on loan from Chelsea – however, came out of his penalty and brought down the hosts’ attacker without getting anything on the ball.
Despite being the last man, the 21-year-old was only shown a yellow card by referee Sunny Singh Gill, allowing him to remain on the pitch to make some crucial saves to help his side complete an upset.
Hackett though has suggested that Hull were hard done by after not finding themselves playing against a side a man down as a result of this incident.
Speaking to Football Insider about the decision not to send Sharman-Lowe off, the former referee said:
“What the referee has to decide is would the covering defenders have got in a challenge and think that’s actually saved him from a red card.
“What you have to do, with the process of the referee in terms of visualisation is: you’ve got the attacker, he’s in possession of the ball, so he’s got a high probability of scoring so it discounts that.
“He’s on his way to goal, a distance from goal where he can still score, so what you do is you say: ‘take the goalkeeper away, in your mind, visualise without the goalkeeper there: would he have had a shot on goal, or would that defender have challenged for the ball?’
“That’s the question. Now if you look at that clip, why he’s lucky is that it seems to me that the covering defenders, are running back towards the goal, rather than facing the attacking player.
“So therefore there is a high probability that he may have had a shot on goal but the referee’s decided there is an element of doubt and not issued the red, the goalkeeper’s lucky because there is an excuse for the referee not to give a red because of a covering defender.”
Hull now return to the issue of fighting to stay in the Championship, with recently appointed Ruben Selles‘ side currently 22nd in the second-tier standings.
They will be looking to strengthen in the January transfer window to aid their cause, and are understood to be keen to sign Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales.
Doncaster meanwhile are continuing to battle for promotion from League Two, and can also look forward to hosting Premier League side Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the FA Cup next month.
In other news, Brighton are preparing to recall Carl Rushworth from his loan spell with Hull City.
For more Brighton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.
The post Doncaster hero 'lucky to be on pitch' to deliver Hull City upset - Ex-PGMOL chief appeared first on Football Insider.
