The Australian wing back's solo strike was ruled out by the flag of a linesman and the interpretation of referee Alan Wiley, who felt Darren Huckerby had strayed into an 'active' offside position when Tiatto's low cross-shot hit the net. Venables is against the rule that allows the officials to use discretion over when a player is deemed to be interfering with play. He believes, like Tottenham's legendary manager Bill Nicholson, that every player on the pitch should be considered to be involved at all times. As Nicholson used to say:'If you are not interfering with play, why are you on the pitch?' Venables added:'Look at Paolo Di Canio's goal against Manchester United. Frank Lampard was in an offside position but he was deemed not to be active. 'This time, the officials thought that Huckerby was active, although I have to say I did not think he was.' Tiatto's strike had been a thing of beauty as he drove down the left wing and shot past Mark Schwarzer. Royle reflected:'The fiction I was given by the referee will hopefully, on video evidence, embarrass him for the rest of his career.' In an astonishingly open game for a relegation battle, both sides had chances to win.