Keith Hackett slams referee as ‘very harsh’ penalty rescues Stoke at Preston
Keith Hackett has reacted after Stoke City were given a lift in their fight to avoid relegation from the Championship with a penalty they were awarded against Preston North End.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the Potters were very fortunate to have that spot kick awarded for a push on Ali Al-Hamadi by Liam Lindsay.
Mark Robins has endured some disappointing results since taking over from Narcis Pelach as Potters manager earlier this year.
Stoke conceded a stoppage time winner to Robins’ former side Coventry City last month, which sparked wild celebrations from Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard.
There have been other setbacks since then, with a controversial late penalty awarded to Millwall condemning Stoke to a 1-0 defeat.
But against Preston at Deepdale on Saturday (5 April), it was the Potters who were on the right end of a somewhat contentious decision.
Stoke City earn vital point in Championship survival fight
Robins had seen his side trail 1-0 heading into half time, after Aston Villa loanee Kaine Kesler-Hayden had put Preston in front.
With 15 minutes to go though, the Potters were given the chance to equalise after Al-Hamadi, who joined Stoke on loan from Ipswich in January, went to ground after a push inside the area from Lindsay.
Initial images and subsequent replays both suggested that contact on the Stoke striker was minimal as the pair looked to reach a cross.
Lewis Baker then converted the spot kick, which was enough to earn the visitors a draw that keeps them narrowly clear of the relegation zone.
Hackett though feels that the Potters were fortunate to be awarded that penalty, which may prove important come the end of the campaign, and criticised referee Farai Hallam’s positioning.
Keith Hackett reacts to key penalty award at Preston
After being asked by Football Insider what he made of that decision, the former referee said:
“Not a penalty for me, I think the player’s gone to ground and the referee’s too far away really.
“I think that’s a very harsh penalty kick award, I don’t think that’s a very good decision to be honest.“
Next up for Stoke is a huge game in their fight for survival, as they host fellow struggles Luton Town on Tuesday night (8 April).
Preston meanwhile welcome another side currently fighting to avoid relegation, Cardiff City, to Deepdale on the same evening.
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