Ipswich Town: Shay Given on Jack Clarke penalty row

The ref initially pointed to the spot after it appeared tricky Town winger Jack Clarke had been tripped by Everton's Dwight McNeil in the 26th minute of the 2-0 defeat at Portman Road.

READ MORE: Stuart Watson's verdict on defeat and penalty row

But he was then advised by VAR officials to watch the incident back on the pitch side monitor - which rose from the ground near the stands - and changed his mind.

Even from slow motion replays, it's tricky to establish exactly what happened - though it does appear Clarke kicked the back of McNeil's calf as he went to shoot.

Talking on last night's MOTD, Given said: “I think Michael Oliver made the right decision. He gave it on the pitch, but he got there in the end.

“He had one chance to see it, but it’s good work from the VAR. It was tricky from Jack Clarke in the box and there was a tangle with the legs and you see Michael point to the spot, he gave it on the pitch.

“But when you slow it down he kicks the back of Dwight McNeil’s leg. I think it’s the right decision. Michael Oliver went over to the machine and gets told you might want to take a look at this.

“And Michael’s gone over and you can see it’s not a penalty. For me, it’s the right decision.”

Both host Gary Lineker and fellow pundit Alan Shearer agreed with Given's analysis.

But Town boss Kieran McKenna certainly did not and was fuming about the potentially match-deciding moment after the game.

Referee Michael Oliver walks over to view the VAR replay screen, after initially awarding Town a penalty. (Image: Steve Waller) He said: "I find it inexplicable really how it can be overruled.

"At the time it looked like a penalty. Of course I'm saying that from an Ipswich lens, but Jack dribbled past a couple of players, is about to shoot, there's every chance it's a goal and Dwight McNeil lunges across the line of the ball, right when he's on his back swing.

"Of course you can say then that it's Jack's foot that strikes Dwight McNeil, but Dwight McNeil lunges across the line of the ball in the penalty area which I don't think you can do as a defender.

"He hasn't touched the ball, he's not even made an attempt to play the ball and he's stopped Jack taking his shot.

"So I think it's a penalty. I understand how it's one that you could possibly debate, but what I can't understand is that, from all the directives we've had and everything I've experienced so far, unless it's a clear and obvious error then it won't be reviewed and the referee's decision on field will stand.

"That's for good reason, because the referee has the best view and he can also feel the action at full speed.

Jack Clarke goes down after making contact with Dwight McNeil in the box (Image: Steve Waller) "So I think it's a really poor decision for that to be identified as a clear and obvious error. I've spoken to Michael downstairs, we had a respectful conversation and, to be honest, he saw it how I saw it.

"We both agreed that Dwight McNeil stepped across the line of the ball as Jack Clarke's about to shoot.

"But he said when you're getting information fed into your ear then it's difficult to go against that. I don't think he should have been put into that position by the VAR.

"Everyone who knows me knows I don't speak about referees, I don't want to spend most of the season talking about VAR, but I am conscious that if I don't do it then it can go against us if other clubs are speaking a lot.

"I do think we had a really poor one go against us today."