In a Sunderland AFC News exclusive, we spoke to esteemed former referee Mark Clattenburg over a controversial moment in Sunderland’s win over West Brom.
Sunderland continued their winning run on Saturday after Regis Le Bris’ side beat fellow play-off hopefuls West Brom 1-0 at The Hawthorns.
Full-back Trai Hume’s first-half free-kick screamer was the sole goal of the game, with the Baggies failing to really threaten Anthony Patterson’s goal.
Le Bris thought Sunderland defended admirably in the second-half as they hung on for victory. Some Black Cats fans were up in arms, believing Tony Mowbray’s side should’ve been down to ten after a tackle from Baggies defender Kyle Bartley.
Did they have a red card case for the challenge, which wasn’t even given as a foul?
Mark Clattenburg explains why Kyle Bartley’s tackle vs Sunderland was not a red card
With Sunderland defending resolutely under intense West Brom pressure in the second-half, Baggies defender Bartley left a full-blooded challenge on Wilson Isidor, as the Frenchman looked to pounce on a loose pass.
Although referee Tom Nield did not give the foul, the play was halted moments later as Isidor received treatment. In the aftermath of the challenge, Sunderland fans took to social media to air their frustrations as to why Bartley was not dismissed, carded, or the foul was even given at the very least.
However, The 2016 Champions League final referee has now informed supporters as to why Bartley was not dismissed on Saturday afternoon after that talking point tackle on Isidor.
Officiating expert Clattenburg exclusively told Sunderland AFC News: “In the Premier League, they have a lower threshold than the Championship in regards to challenges which can endanger the safety of the opponent. That said, this challenge is certainly a foul challenge and should have a been a free kick.
“What saved the player from a red card would be the challenge is from the side, with his studs low to the ground with a more sliding action in trying to win the ball than to lunge in with his studs high.
“Therefore the criteria of malice is not met and I can understand why the red card would not be given even if it will split opinions.”
Bartley’s foul certainly did split opinions, with many of the Wearside faithful lamenting referee Nield’s decision not to even caution the Baggies defender.
Ultimately, the incident didn’t haunt the Black Cats as they saw out an imperative victory on the road, as they continued their promotion push with a trip to Carrow Road on Tuesday evening.
Hume continued his rich vein of form with the audacious effort, but the win was blighted by a worrying injury concern for Romaine Mundle. The left-winger will miss the trip to Norwich on Tuesday as Le Bris admitted that Mundle’s injury could be serious given the reoccurrence of his hamstring issue.
Sunderland’s top-two hopes are not over just yet
Sunderland’s play-off fate is almost mathematically certain following their victory at The Hawthorns. Le Bris’ side yield a sufficient 15-point buffer on the two current play-off finishers below themselves, Middlesbrough and Bristol City, with the standings below Sunderland changing on a gamely basis.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  BurnleyBurnley | 40 | 23 | 15 | 2 | 55 | 12 | 43 | 84 |
| 2 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 40 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 56 | 30 | 26 | 83 |
| 3 |  LeedsLeeds | 40 | 23 | 13 | 4 | 79 | 28 | 51 | 82 |
| 4 |  SunderlandSunderland | 40 | 21 | 12 | 7 | 57 | 37 | 20 | 75 |
| 5 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 40 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 61 | 49 | 12 | 60 |
| 6 |  Bristol CityBristol City | 40 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 51 | 43 | 8 | 60 |
The Canaries currently sit 11th on 52 points, so will be no pushovers for Sunderland as their play-off hopes dwindle.
In December’s reverse fixture, the Black Cats came back from a goal down to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Dan Ballard, and Jobe Bellingham’s match-winning strike.
Borga Sainz was the pantomime villain in that clash and the 17-goal forward will certainly be a handful once more for the Black Cats as they fight to maintain momentum with their promotion push.
If Le Bris’ side can keep ramping the pressure on the top three by continuing their winning run, one or two more shock results in the Championship could dramatically change the top-six picture, potentially in Sunderland’s favour.