Dermot Gallagher gives verdict on four key Newcastle…

Dermot Gallagher gives verdict on four key Newcastle decisions after Spurs win

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has said that the decisions made during Newcastle United's 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur yesterday were 'brilliant'.

There were several contentious decisions throughout the match but the 65-year-old believes that each were dealt with well and were all the correct decisions.

The Magpies could've had two penalties after Joelinton appeared to be fouled before the ball struck Emerson Royal's hand in the second half but neither were given by referee Jarred Gillett.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Ref Watch, Gallagher first pointed out that there was nothing wrong with Callum Wilson's actions in the build-up to his opening goal.

"I think it's a good goal, yeah, we're going to have goalkeepers united and forwards united and it could be a split vote but for me, he does nothing wrong.

"Lloris goes into him, I don't know where Callum Wilson can go. For me, it's good play, a good finish and the referee is absolutely right to award the goal. It was checked by VAR and they concurred."

When questioned by Paul Robinson as to whether it'd be a penalty if Lloris had wrapped his arm around Wilson as Wilson seemingly does to him in this scenario, Gallagher was quick to dismiss that notion.

"It's a physical contact sport, Paul, and you said it yourself - I don't think he's done too much wrong. I look at that and can't see enough evidence to give the goal against him.

"It's checked by VAR because once a referee awards that on the pitch, VAR won't overturn that. It's not clear and obvious, I don't think it's even an error anyhow.

"I think it's got to be a very very big foul in order for VAR to overturn it, even if it was the other way around and the referee had blown up and called it a foul. I still think VAR would stay with the referee's decision."

Looking at Newcastle's penalty appeal further into the second half, where Joelinton headed the ball on to Emerson Royal's arm, Gallagher added: "I think it hits him - and that's all. We always talk about natural positions for arms and hands to be and if you look, the arm that it hits is, in my opinion, in a natural position but if it'd hit the other arm, it's a penalty.

"It's one of the criteria [how close a defender is when the ball hits their hand/arm] but it's not the only one. If he's close, but he's got his arm flailing our here, then you can't one against the other.

"I think there, he's close but it's where I'd expect his arm to be for that ball."

Gallagher also gave his view on whether the ball touched Davison Sanchez for Harry Kane's goal in a potential offside scenario to which Gallagher agreed with the on-field decision.

"It's a really tough call but if you have to look at the replay that many times to judge whether or not it's hit a player, it shouldn't be ruled out. I still can't tell whether it's hit him, if it does, Kane is offside, we all know that.

"But, how many times do you want to watch it? If you run it, and run it, and run it, and still can't tell if it's hit him - you're just watching the same picture. There's no evidence that it's struck him."

Finally, Gallagher looked at Joelinton's penalty appeal but the former referee backed the decision made by the officials.

"This is amazing officiating - when I saw this, my first call was penalty. This was the picture I saw live and I've gone 'Penalty'. But when you see the replay, you see Joelinton actually catches Emerson Royal in the back of the leg with his own foot.

"It's a great spot by the referee. I think that's one of the real referees for the future, he's started so well and he's unfussy, he's a safe ref and he'll go on and on and on."

Dermot Gallagher gives verdict on four key Newcastle decisions after Spurs win

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