Sky Sports' Ref Watch trio agreed with the decision to award Sunderland a penalty for Levi Colwill's foul on Brian Brobbey, but were left bemused by the sequence of events that led to Cole Palmer's appeals being waved away minutes previous.

Palmer was brought down by Jules Ahoka and Luke O'Nien with the score at 0-0 in the first half, but referee Jarred Gillett waved play on. A VAR check followed and agreed with Gillett's decision, stating that any contact had taken place outside of the box. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher argued VAR's scope to intervene was limited once it was established the foul was given against Ahoka, who was clearly outside the box. However, that Gillett did not blow for a foul left the panel confused.

Former striker Jay Bothroyd said: "I don't even understand how the referee is not saying that's a free kick? I don't get that. The ball has not been touched, Palmer has clearly been taken out. I think it's a penalty. The referee is not far away, I think it's a penalty because it's still a foul from O'Nien. I don't understand how it's not even a free kick."

Gallagher added: "VAR says Ahoka went first, outside the box."

All three agreed, however, that Brobbey had been fouled by Levi Colwill in the game's crucial moment minutes later.

Gallagher said: "The grabbing [from both] starts outside the area, the referee doesn't take sides. Once Brobbey gets in front and Colwill doesn't let go, that's where he falls foul. Once Brobbey is in front, he has got the ascendancy and then Colwill pulls him down. He does clip his heels as well.

Former Premier League midfielder Tim Sherwood said: "Brobbey decides to wait for some contact into his legs and he gets it, he obliges and then he goes down. It's a penalty."

Bothroyd added: "First of all, I'm thinking 'you've got to get rid of this]. He's let it bounce and then I'm saying, 'don't get tight to him because you're gonna get ragdolled' and that's exactly what happened. He's so strong. I think he's the strongest player in the world. Then he's going back running into the area and then again, he's tripped him. Clearly you have to give a penalty."

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Sherwood and Bothroyd also both said they thought Morgan Rogers was lucky to get away with a knee to Trai Hume's head later in the game when the Sunderland stalwart was on the ground.

Gallagher sympathised with the officials, arguing it was difficult to prove the intent: "When you go on the wide camera, Rogers isn't looking at him. Maybe I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, but only Morgan Rogers knows his intent. He may have accidentally done it, only he knows."