Ref Watch: EFL Cup Final

How did the officials get Manolo Gabbiadini offside call so wrong? Did Jesse Lingard deserve red in the EFL Cup final? Dermot Gallagher knows...

Man Utd 3-2 Southampton - Saints disallowed goal

INCIDENT: Manolo Gabbiadini sees his goal flagged for offside by Stuart Burt early on in Southampton's 3-2 defeat by Man Utd in the EFL Cup final. However, Ryan Bertrand was the player offside from the cross, and the defender was not interfering with play.

DERMOT'S VIEW: He's got it wrong because he's acted too fast, he hasn't waited. As you can see Bertrand is offside but not Gabbiadini. I feel sorry for the referee [Andre Marriner] because he may well have said to the linesman: "Are you happy with that?" and the linesman may have said yes.

Would I have gone across to the linesman? I think because the ball has gone dead [into the goal], that's the ideal time to use your time, but I think if the assistant believes he has got it right, he has no reason to call the referee over. It's just a real unfortunate error.

It's a big error. This is what we'd call a key match decision, and it affects the outcome of the game.

Stephens yellow card

INCIDENT: Jack Stephens goes in studs-up on Anthony Martial after the ball had run loose, but only uses one foot to tackle, and is not off the ground. Referee Andre Marriner gave Stephens a yellow card, and Stephens was in fact clipped by Jesse Lingard in the build-up to the incident.

DERMOT'S VIEW: I think the referee has done really well here, because he was clipped by Lingard. He's low, and he misses with his studs and gets him with his knee. The referee doesn't get influenced by the Manchester United protests.

Lingard fouls

INCIDENT: After Lingard was booked for the above incident on Stephens, he clips Nathan Redmond in the second half as the winger runs past him, but referee Marriner waves advantage after the Southampton man stayed on his feet. Lingard is not booked.

DERMOT'S VIEW: I think he's lucky because Redmond stays on his feet, and it doesn't stop a promising attack.

Credit: Skysports.com