Norwich City boss Dean Smith insists their defeat to Brentford was decided by VAR.
Norwich, despite going at half-time 1-0 down, had created chances and looked the more threatening team in the first 45 minutes. However, the match swung early in the second half when the Canaries were denied a penalty when Brandon Williams appeared to be tripped in the box, only for, with help of VAR, Brentford to be given a penalty when Ben Gibson caught Pontus Jansson with a high boot in the box.
“Football is about moments," said Dean. “And we are subjected to these words, clear and obvious. The referee hasn't seen Ben Gibson's high foot. Yes, it is high, and I can't deny that, but we just had an incident a minute earlier which is a penalty.
“(Bryan) Mbuemo is trying to get the ball and he goes through Brandon Williams to get it. How that is not clear and obvious, I don't know. Then the third one is a poor decision from Gibbo, he goes to ground, but he doesn't actually touch Ivan Toney. Ivan Toney ends up putting his foot across him.
"John Brooks, on VAR today I think, doesn't get involved. I'm standing there 3-0 down thinking, how has that happened? That was a big moment, that penalty for Brandon. That was our opportunity to get back to 1-1. Who knows what happens then? I would have certainly fancied our chances of winning the game."
Speaking about the performance overall, Dean added: “It was a really disappointing day. I was actually, not pleased with the scoreline at half-time, but I felt we we're the better team and that we had created the better chances.
“We didn't defend two set-pieces, which were their only two chances in the first half. The corner, Brandon Williams has got to get tighter at the far post and then it is a long throw where the second ball has landed to Sergi (Canós) on the edge of the area and Tim has made a good save.
“However, other than that, I thought we created the better chances. Milot has had a really good chance in the opening two minutes, Sarge has had a really good chance form a cut back where he has put it over the bar.
“I said to the players at half-time, stick to the gameplan because you are the aggressors in the game for the majority of the first half, but then football is about moments and unfortunately those moments went against us today. It felt contrived against us.
“Unfortunately, it feels like we have been VARed tonight and I am disappointed because Brentford is a team that I believe we could finish above, but 10 points now is a big margin. I thought that was given a helping hand by some of our decision-making in our own penalty box but also the officials as well."
