Newcastle United latest news: Sky Sports Ref Watch have analysed controversial incidents during Newcastle United’s win over Chelsea.
The Magpies took home all three points from the capital following Anthony Gordon’s early goal. Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, though, was angered that his side were not awarded a penalty by referee Paul Tierney following a coming together between Cole Palmer and Nick Woltemade.
That wasn’t Rosenior’s only gripe with Tierney on Saturday, though, after a bizarre incident before the start of the game where the referee was caught in the middle of the Blues’ pre-match huddle around the centre-circle. That incident has caused much debate and it’s clear that it still remains a divisive topic.
Speaking on Sky Sports Ref Watch, even Gallagher and his co-pundit Jay Bothroyd had polarising opinions. Speaking first, Gallagher said: “I could not believe it! I get it that they want to show they are together and bond before a game, but do they have to do it there? I see no need for it!”
Bothroyd, meanwhile, lays the blame at Tierney’s door: “Why does Paul have to stand there? Does he have to stand on the centre circle? It is more embarrassing that the ref just stood there.”
Sky Sports Ref Watch analyse Chelsea v Newcastle United incidents
Whilst that bizarre moment pre kick-off made for some good social media clips and debate after the event, it had little impact on the 90 minutes that would follow it. However, Tierney’s day in the middle of the action wouldn’t end there with both teams having big penalty claims.
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As mentioned, Rosenior was particularly unhappy that Chelsea weren’t given a penalty for a supposed foul on Palmer.
Gallagher, though, didn’t agree with the former Hull City man’s view of the incident: "I don't think it is a foul. Cole Palmer stands on Woltemade's foot,” Gallagher said. “He has his foot planted, so there is no way he is going to foul him.”
Newcastle United, meanwhile, may also have been given a spot-kick of their own in the first-half, one that would have given them a chance to double their lead and put clear daylight between themselves and their hosts. VAR checked a tussle between Reece James and Malick Thiaw in the box, but saw no reason to overturn Tierney’s call of no penalty, despite the Chelsea man having eyes for only his opponent and not the ball as the corner was delivered.
“If you are not looking at the ball, you are taking a massive risk - there is no way he can ever say, 'I am trying to look at the ball.'” Gallagher said on that incident. “He is not trying to fend off a defender, he does not know where the ball is and the ball is the clue.”
Bothroyd added: “It is crazy - he is holding him and taking about four or five steps, and he is holding him the whole way and not looking at the ball, he does not even know where the ball is going. So I am really surprised that has not been given as a penalty.”
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