Ex-ref disagrees with Eddie Howe on key Newcastle United incident v Bournemouth as £34m man lucky to avoid ban
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Newcastle United latest news: Dermot Gallagher has given his view on incidents during Bournemouth and Newcastle United’s goalless draw on Sunday.
Dermot Gallagher has delivered his verdict on whether Newcastle United should have been awarded a penalty or not during their goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium. In a game of few chances, Newcastle believed they could have been given a penalty kick when Nick Woltemade had his shirt pulled by Bafode Diakite.
The German international fell to the floor, but his protests were waved away by referee Robert Jones. VAR checked the incident, but concurred with the official on the field and no penalty was awarded.
Speaking about the incident after the match, Eddie Howe said: “Yeah, I haven't seen it back, but my gut instinct was that it was a penalty, I was adamant that it was, that was just my feeling.
“I thought that he was tugged and he was pulled and it stopped him from getting his shot off, so for me it was a clear penalty, but I might feel differently when I watch it again.”
Dermot Gallagher’s Newcastle United penalty verdict
That incident was dissected on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, but Gallagher disagreed with Howe’s view of the incident and supported the call of Jones and VAR: “Is there enough for him to go down like that?” Gallagher questioned. “I think not.”
Whilst Newcastle United were reeling from not being given a penalty by Jones, they did leave the field of play potentially fortunate to have kept all eleven men on the pitch. Malick Thiaw was booked for a handball during the second half - but then wasn’t shown a second yellow card in the 81st minute for blocking Ryan Christie as he looked to advance into the penalty area.
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Within minutes of that incident, Thiaw was substituted by Howe, replaced with club captain Jamaal Lascelles for his first competitive appearance since March 2024. On whether Thiaw should have been sent off or not, Gallagher added: “It's quite ironic because I talk all the time about being mindful that not every foul after a yellow card is a second yellow card.
“But I actually do think this is a second yellow card. I think it's cynical, he knows exactly what he's doing and further evidence of that was that his manager immediately substituted him.”
One other decision to get the Ref Watch treatment was a potential handball by Sandro Tonali. A whipped free-kick by David Brooks hit the Italian on the arm with some appeals from the hosts for a penalty.
However, replays immediately showed that the midfielder’s arm was not in an unnatural position: “He’s certainly not making his body bigger.” Gallagher said.
“You can see it comes in very, very fast. His arms are across his chest so very, very unfortunate to concede a penalty for this.
“It’s just smashed into him, if anything he’s making his body smaller rather than bigger.”
A third goalless draw on the road this season leaves Newcastle United 13th in the Premier League table ahead of their clash with Arsenal at St James’ Park on Sunday. Before then, though, Howe’s side will begin the defence of the Carabao Cup against Bradford City on Wednesday night.