After making a horrific tackle on Hull striker Aaron Connolly, Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn went viral and was awarded a free kick.
At the MKM Stadium, the two teams squared battle in the Championship on Friday night, with the visitors, Norwich, coming out on top 2-1.
Jonathan Rowe and Christian Fassnacht gave the Canaries a 2-0 lead, but Tyler Morton, a Liverpool loanee, gave Liam Rosenior’s Tigers some much-needed comfort in second-half stoppage time.
However, if Gunn’s challenge to Connolly had resulted in a different outcome, the game might have unfolded quite differently.
The former England U21 goalkeeper rushed out of his goal in an attempt to intercept a pass in the first ten minutes of the game.
Connolly, who has eight league goals this season, was also attempting to get there first. The striker was then knocked out as Gunn jumped, missed the ball, and hit the striker’s head.
You can see the video below.
Much to the amazement of all watchers, Connolly was awarded a free kick as a result of the challenge.
After the tackle, the Republic of Ireland international forward landed on the back of his head and sustained a concussion that prevented him from playing further.
After the game, Hull manager Rosenior expressed his understandable outrage that his team had to pay a price for Gunn’s challenge, even if he did provide some support for the player.
He said (quotes via Hull Daily Mail): “I don’t know how we’re penalised for a free kick.
“I can understand why the goalkeeper’s come out. He had a very good game. I don’t know if you can punish him – I think they’re both going for the ball.
“But it’s clearly our free kick at the least. I don’t want players off the pitch, but for us to be penalised for that, pretty much sums up how I feel the refereeing decisions have gone against us this season.”
After their loss, Hull is still at seventh position, one point off of the play-off spots. They will now be without a vital player for a few weeks at least.