Coppell answers critics after the goal that never was

Last updated : 23 September 2008 By Angus Muller
So bizarre it will be remembered for a very long time and appear on many a quiz sheet for years to come.

Reading, from a corner, saw the ball cross the goal line but not between the goalposts and instead of giving a goal kick the officials awarded the Royals a goal when quite clearly it was not.

The linesman was adamant the ball crossed the line but from his position he thought it was between the posts. The referee had no idea so took the linesman's word for it.

Watford went ballistic but the officials tood firm. Reading took the goal, wrongly in my opinion, and the game continued.

Steve Coppell has come under a lot of flak for not allowing Watford to score to even it up. He has hit back though at those who have had a go at him.

"I was bitterly disappointed by the holier-than-thou tone of some of the radio commentators - people saying that we knew it wasn't a goal and we should have then just stepped back and let them score a goal.

"I don't care if anyone else has done it. First and foremost I didn't discuss it at half-time with anybody. I was just interested in making sure we were ready for the second half.

"The players may have discussed it among themselves, but I certainly didn't.

"We are not there to referee the game. We are not the conscience of the game. Right from when you start playing football at school everyone says play to the whistle. We play to the whistle."