It did not prove costly in the end but Manchester City will be wondering why they were not awarded a penalty during their Premier League clash with Southampton.
Calls for a City penalty were waved away by referee Jonathan Moss after Phil Foden went down in the box under a challenge from Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy in the first half of Wednesday evening's showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
Television replays suggested the decision might be overturned by the VAR (video assistant referee), with McCarthy seemingly making contact with Foden's ankle.
However, the original call was upheld following a review of the incident.
Sky Sports pundits Graeme Souness and Joleon Lescott both felt it should have been a penalty.
“My eyesight must be gone," said Lescott. "I just don’t know how that is deemed a 50/50 challenge because Phil Foden’s foot is taken away.
"The fact that he has slipped and the ball doesn’t deviate the other way... I’m surprised that’s not given.”
Souness added: “He’s too honest, Foden. That’s a penalty.
"Listen, the referees back each other up, we know that, so the referee at the game hasn’t given it, so the people sitting at Stockley Park (VAR) don’t give it as a penalty.
"They just make it up as they go along, the refs!”
So, why was the penalty not given?
MEN Sport understands that referee Moss evidently felt that McCarthy got a slight touch on the ball and when VAR Andy Madley looked at the challenge, based on the replays provided, he could not see definitive proof that there had been no touch on the ball by the Southampton keeper.
As such, he advised that the VAR check was complete, so Moss stayed with his on-field decision.
Ultimately, it did not matter as City ran out 5-2 winners to bounce back from their derby defeat to Manchester United at the weekend.
Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez both scored twice, with Ilkay Gundogan also on target.
James Ward-Prowse, with a penalty, and Che Adams replied for the visitors as City restored their 14-point lead at the top of the table.
