Paul Clement called for the introduction of video technology over penalty decisions after Burnley were awarded a bizarre spot-kick at the Liberty Stadium.
Fernando Llorente was the Swansea hero as his stoppage-time winner secured a 3-2 home victory and lifted Clement’s side five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. But the game’s main talking point centred on the 20th-minute penalty that Anthony Taylor awarded Burnley even though television replays showed it was the Clarets striker Sam Vokes who had handled the ball.
“I spoke to him [Taylor] at half-time and he said he made what was in his opinion an honest decision,” said Clement. “I don’t think it would be any other way. It was clearly a mistake.
“I realised 30 seconds after the incident what had happened. Someone told me from the backroom staff, who were able to see it.”
Asked whether video technology should be introduced for such incidents, the Swansea head coach added: “I’d 100% welcome it. I don’t understand why it’s taking so long, it’s been spoken about for years and years.
“I feel for referees. I referee in training and sometimes I guess and sometimes I go off the reaction of the players. What is bizarre is the referee, the assistants and fourth official are the only people in the stadium who do not have the help they need.
“Media have got it, technical staff can get it, fans have got it real-time on their mobile devices. The only one who doesn’t get the help is the one who needs it the most.”
In a seesaw game, Swansea’s fast start was almost rewarded when they struck the woodwork twice in the same 11th-minute attack. Alfie Mawson headed Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free-kick against the crossbar and, following some pinball in the Burnley penalty area, the centre-back was denied for a second time when his shot cannoned back off a post.
A minute later Llorente gave Swansea the lead before Andre Gray’s controversial leveller from the spot. Gray then fired Burnley ahead just after the hour mark, but Martin Olsson equalised before Llorente struck for the 11th time this season to secure a vital three points for Swansea in the battle against relegation.
“I’m not sure there is a better player in Europe at attacking crosses, and I’ve worked with some good ones,” Clement said. “That’s some key goals Fernando has come up with now. There was the header against Liverpool and now this one.
He has a hand in goals too, he’s put in some great assists. But he gets big help from the team too, they put some fantastic deliveries in for him today.”
Sean Dyche was also angry with Taylor as he insisted that Llorente’s winner should not have stood. The Spanish striker rose above Ben Mee at the far post but Dyche felt that he had done so illegally.
“The one at the end is a foul,” said the Burnley manager. “We see that given in the Premier League, to have a hand that big in your back. So we’re coming away frustrated with a decision at the end. I thought they were the better side and we would have nicked a good point today.”
Burnley remain nine points clear of the bottom three and are probably two wins from safety. But Dyche said: “I’m more interested in the performances. If you’re doing that well you’ll do things right.”
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