Can you figure out why THIS bizarre goal was disallowed in a decision which left both managers baffled?

Stoke had a goal disallowed in the first half of their Championship clash at Swansea on Wednesday, with the decision leaving both head coaches scratching their heads.

After falling behind to Liam Cullen’s 19th minute strike, Stoke thought they’d equalised 10 minutes later through Niall Ennis’s quick reactions.

The game’s controversial moment started with Swansea goalkeeper Carl Rushworth collecting an over-hit through ball, before the 22-year-old then looked up to try and start an attack for the hosts. 

As he went to throw the ball out to a team-mate it appeared to slip from his grasp and hit the back of Stoke forward Ennis’s head. He then reacted quickest to poke the loose ball into the net.

Ennis wheeled away to celebrate, but his joy was short-lived as the referee blew his whistle and awarded a free-kick to Swansea.

Ennis turned around and poked the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed by the referee

The official may have felt that Ennis unfairly knocked the ball out of Rushworth’s hands, but replays appeared to show that much of the goalkeeper’s predicament was of his own making.

The bizarre goal – that was harshly chalked off – left many baffled, including both managers.

Swansea boss Luke Williams seemed to have a puzzled expression on his face, and may well have missed the incident that happened in a flash, while Stoke manager Steven Schumacher was left perplexed that the decision went against his team. 

Schumacher said: ‘I didn’t think it’s a foul. I don’t think Niall Ennis knows [Carl] Rushworth is there. He just stands up. He’s allowed to stand where he stood.

‘Carl Rushworth has just collided with him trying to throw the ball fast and the ball’s popped out because it’s difficult conditions in the rain and Niall taps it in.

‘At that moment that would have got us back to 1-1, back into the game. We would have been still alive.’

Former QPR and Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth was in the Sky Sports studio, and agreed with Schumacher that Stoke had been hard done by.

‘[Referee] Keith Stroud is in a great position and fair play he’s going to have to think quick and think ‘What is the law? What happens there?’

Swansea manager Luke Williams appeared baffled by what had happened

Stoke boss Steven Schumacher was perplexed as to why the goal was disallowed

‘He’s explaining [to the Stoke players] that the keeper had two hands on it. In a challenge situation I understand that but there’s no challenge, the keeper has actually instigated the challenge. The keeper has made the mistake.

‘I think Stoke can feel very aggrieved there.’

Swansea went on to win 3-0 thanks to second-half goals from Matt Grimes and Joshua Key to move seven points clear of the bottom three.

They look to be almost safe from relegation, but the same cannot be said for Stoke as they sit just three points above 22nd-placed Sheffield Wednesday, and still have work to do to stay in the Championship for another year.