Newcastle United latest news: The Premier League and PGMOL have revealed who will referee Newcastle United v Manchester United at St James’ Park on Wednesday night (8:15pm kick-off).
Defeat against Everton on Saturday means they have now lost three-in-a-row in the Premier League at St James’ Park and have fallen even further behind their main rivals for European football. A 7th place finish is seemingly all they can hope for this season, but results at the weekend mean they currently trail the occupier of that place, Brentford, by seven points with ten games of the season left to play.
The Magpies were beaten by Manchester United in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day - in a match that would prove to be Ruben Amorim’s final win as Red Devils manager. Howe will now square-off against Michael Carrick at St James’ Park on Wednesday night with his side trailing their visitors by 15 points in the table ahead of kick-off.
There is a chink of light for the Magpies, though, who are unbeaten in all four home games against Manchester United under Howe’s management of the club. They have also won their last three meetings between the two clubs at St James’ Park.
PGMOL reveal Newcastle United v Manchester United referee
Ahead of this week’s clash at St James’ Park, the Premier League and PGMOL have revealed thatPeter Bankeshas been appointed as referee. The Merseyside whistler’s last Newcastle United game came on Wearside in December as he oversaw their 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.
Whilst that game largely passed without incident, controversy would strike just a week later when Bankes, in charge of VAR for Newcastle United’s clash with Chelsea, did not intervene to award the Magpies a penalty for a foul by Trevoh Chalobah on Anthony Gordon. The Blues would go onto equalise after that, with Newcastle United writing to the PGMOL in the days after that game to seek clarification on the decision.
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“Yes, we will be seeking clarification,” Howe said at the time. “That call has already gone in, not from me personally, but from the club. We just want to know the thought process behind the decision.”
More recently, Bankes caught the ire from Tottenham Hotspur fans as he disallowed a Randal Kolo Muani goal during their 4-1 defeat against Arsenal after the Frenchman was judged to have pushed Gunners defender Gabriel in the back before poking home past David Raya. Appearing on the Match Officials Mic’d Up review show, Bankes explained his decision to disallow the goal, stating: “I see two hands from the Tottenham player into the back of the Arsenal player and that is going to be my main focus. It looks like a push, a clear push.
“I delayed the whistle so that the play could continue, then obviously gave my final decision once the ball had gone into the goal. That allows the VAR then to potentially check if I’ve misread something or if it doesn’t quite look right. On-field it looked a very clear offence.”
Bankes will be assisted by Eddie Smart and Blake Antrobus on Wednesday night at St James’ Park. Tim Robinson will be fourth official whilst VAR at Stockley Park will be operated by Paul Tierney - he will be assisted by Marc Perry.
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