Stoke City and pundits in disbelief as ref Keith Stroud disallows goal vs Swansea

Referee Keith Stroud has dismayed and confused Stoke City after bizarrely ruling out a Niall Ennis goal at Swansea.

Stoke were trailing in the first half at a wet Swansea.com Stadium when Ennis ran into the area chasing a looped through ball from Enda Stevens. A slight tug back from Harry Darling left him on the floor in the area and gave goalkeeper Carl Rushworth a chance to grab hold of the ball.

Rushworth moved forward looking to release a teammate and inadvertently bounced the ball on Ennis’s head as the stricken striker was standing up. Ennis then reacted to poke it home – and look stunned as Stroud’s whistle went. Stoke’s bench berated the fourth official Josh Smith as Sky Sports commentators suggested that the beleaguered referee must have considered Rushworth to be in control of the ball.

Sky pundit Ashley Williams said: “Carl Rushworth is very lucky. I understand if by the letter of the law it’s the correct decision but I can’t understand why it would be because he’s just bounced the ball off Ennis’s head. If Ennis tries to head it out of his heads, fair enough, but he’s not even looking.”

Gareth Ainsworth, also on Sky duty, said: “He’s a lucky man, a very lucky man. The keeper has made the mistake. In the law their might be something about a forward making a challenge but the forward is not making a challenge, he’s just standing up. Keith Stroud is in a great position. He’s going to have to think quick. He’s explaining that the keeper has two hands on it but that’s in a challenge situation. There’s no challenge. The keeper has instigated the challenge. It’s his mistake. Stoke can feel very aggrieved.”

Stoke supporters were furious too and comments flooded social media, with Becky saying: “What did Ennis do wrong there for this not to stand? The keeper knocked the ball off his head, and Ennis didn’t foul him whatsoever going for the ball.”

Jeremy Leese said: “Slowly edging back into this game. Ennis knew nothing about the keeper dropping the ball onto his head, & the goal should have stood.”

Ian Parkes said: “Nothing wrong with that goal, their keeper hit it against Ennis.”

Andy Steele said: “Only that would happen to Stoke.. Goal Keeper goes to throw the ball, but bounces it off the head of Ennis for us to score and Ref says that we took the ball out of the keeper’s possession..”

Steinar Halvorsen said: “Again we are robbed by the EFL referees.