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In just over 10 minutes of the first half, the tide of Chelsea's away fixture at Sunderland shifted dramatically.
Cole Palmer was still seething over a strong penalty shout that had been dismissed by the officials when referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot for a Sunderland penalty. There was an outraged response from the Chelsea bench, who collectively questioned whether Levi Colwill had been fouled just as much as Brian Brobbey during a mutual tangle.
Yet, considerable frustration remained over the original decision that had gone against Palmer.
Why Cole Palmer Was Denied Penalty Against Sunderland
A quarter of the way into the first half, Palmer maneuvered himself on the wrong side of Sunderland's Luke O'Nien. The Black Cats captain desperately attempted to stop Chelsea's key man but failed to make any contact with the ball, crashing instead into the back of Palmer's right knee.
Remarkably, referee Gillett chose not to blow his whistle for any foul, and his video assistant referee Nick Hopton did not direct him to the pitchside monitor. As the Premier League confirmed in a statement issued during the match, the VAR was unconvinced by the penalty appeal.
In Hopton's assessment, the infringement occurred outside the penalty area. Broadcast footage suggested that while O'Nien may have initially collided with Palmer just before the white line, contact did appear to carry on into the box, which should in theory have warranted a penalty.
The officials' defense lies in the ambiguity of the replays. VAR can only step in when there is a "clear and obvious error," with a high bar set by the Premier League's governing body.
Reaction to Chelsea Penalty Dismissal
Numerous fans online were enraged by the non-call, their anger amplified by Sunderland's successful penalty appeal just 13 minutes later. However, Sky Sports pundit Chris Sutton offered only partial sympathy for the away side.
"They have every right to feel aggrieved about the Cole Palmer decision," the former Chelsea forward acknowledged. "It's not a penalty as I believe the initial contact happens outside the box, but it is a foul. Jarred Gillett and VAR chose to let play continue."
Nevertheless, Sutton's overall view was shaped by the belief that Sunderland's halftime advantage reflected the flow of the game: "The truth is Chelsea have been second best."