Fulham skipper left reeling from Manchester City’s controversial ‘offside’ goal

Tim Ream has given his reaction to Fulham’s 5-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday – with the American centre-back saying the hosts’ crucial second goal just before half-time was “a clear offside”.

VAR did review the incident but deemed that Manuel Akanji was not interfering with play, despite the centre-back jumping over the ball before it went past Whites keeper Bernd Leno.

Even City’s Erling Haaland, who ended up scoring a hat-trick against the west Londoners, admitted they had been harshly treated.

“It was offside,” Haaland told beIN SPORTS. “I feel bad for them – I would be fuming after this as well. It must be a horrible feeling.”

Ream had levelled up the Premier League match, scoring at the back post after a corner was initially met by Raul Jimenez.

“It’s a clear offside,” Ream told FFCtv. “It’s a tough one to understand (why it was not disallowed).

“You then go in at half-time down 2-1 and deflated, because we felt we played very well in the first half. We felt like we were in the game.

“We weren’t quite at it second half. We weren’t as aggressive or as neat and tidy on the ball. When you’re not as aggressive against a team like that – getting in their faces – the game can get away from you. That’s what we saw today (Saturday).

“My goal was not even a consolation. I’d give that up to come away with a result, any day of the week.”

PICTURE: PA