Albion were denied a goal by what looked a bizarre moment of officiating at West Brom today.

Referee Lee Mason and video assistant Simon Hooper were at the heart of the confusion.

Lewis Dunk’s free-kick - taken quickly but AFTER the whistle - beat keeper Sam Johnstone, who was out of position.

Mason disallowed the goal but, after the visitors complained, then allowed it.

Hooper then appeared to be checking for offside by Dan Burn.

Amid the chaos, it was determined Mason had blown his whistle a second time as the ball was about to cross the line.

The ultimate decision was a retake of the free-kick.

There was no obvious reason for the second whistle.

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Replays showed Dunk reduced to laughter as Mason explained the decision.

Dunk had a quick word with Mason just before striking the free-kick, perhaps checking he could take it quickly.

Albion trailed to a Kyle Bartley header at the time and had seen a Pascal Gross penalty – correctly awarded for handball with textbook use of the VAR system – hit the bar.

Dunk scored from a similar quickly taken free-kick at Anfield last season.

On that occasion, referee Martin Atkinson and video assistant Craig Pawson had no hesitation in awarding the goal, despite the protests of home goalkeeper Adrian and his team mates.