‘Lucky’ - Ex-ref delivers surprise verdict on two controversial Newcastle United v Brentford incidents
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Newcastle United latest news: Sky Sports Ref Watch has analysed two key incidents during Newcastle United’s Premier League defeat against Brentford.
Dermot Gallagher believes that Kieran Trippier was ‘lucky’ to avoid conceding a penalty within 90 seconds of Newcastle United’s defeat against Brentford on Saturday evening.
The Magpies would ultimately fall to a one-goal defeat against the Bees courtesy of Dango Ouattara’s late strike past Nick Pope. Newcastle had dragged themselves back into the game after falling 2-1 behind following Vitaly Janelt’s header and Igor Thiago’s penalty, but were unable to get their noses in front of their visitors and paid the price for that when Ouattara struck in the 85th minute.
Referee Andy Madley gave two penalties, one for each team, during a chaotic game at St James’ Park. However, according to Gallagher, Madley could easily have awarded a spot-kick within two minutes of kick-off after an incident between Trippier and Keane Lewis-Potter.
The Magpies man wasn’t punished for pulling back his opposite number by Madley, with VAR concurring with the referee’s call. Gallagher, though, believes that Newcastle and Trippier were ‘lucky’ to avoid giving away a penalty on that occasion.
Speaking on Sky Sports Ref Watch, Gallagher said: “He couldn't have complained if a penalty was given so he gets lucky.The way Lewis-Potter goes down doesn't help his case with the referee. He'll say he has to go down but it's almost an afterthought.
“Trippier does grab his shirt. Even if a penalty is given, it's not going to be a red card because the ball is running away and the 'keeper will be the favourite to get it. The maximum would be a yellow card.”
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Sky Sports Ref Watch on second Newcastle United v Brentford penalty incident
Roughly forty minutes after that incident, Madley this time did find himself awarding the Bees a penalty. Jacob Murphy was the man judged to have committed the offence as his arm blocked a goalbound shot.
This time, VAR did have a very long look at the incident but, once again, agreed with the referee’s decision and allowed him to stick with the call of a penalty. Whilst many have viewed this decision as harsh with Murphy’s arm being very close to the side of his body when it was struck by the ball, because the shot was goalbound there was very little that VAR could do to overturn the decision.
On that penalty decision, Gallagher said: “Jacob Murphy's arm is out. He moves his arm back in which means it hits it. The shot is on target.”
Jay Bothroyd, meanwhile, added: “I've heard people say he's moving his arm towards the ball, but actually he's coming across and is moving in that direction to the right.
“That is accidental. The ball is going in the goal so it's a yellow card and a penalty. It's the right decision.”
That defeat to Brentford ensured that Newcastle United ended the weekend in the bottom half of the Premier League table and with a fair bit of ground to make up on the sides pushing for European qualification. Eddie Howe’s side face Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night (7:30pm kick-off) as they look to right the wrongs of Saturday’s defeat.