Eddie Howe had to stop himself from getting into 'trouble' after the Newcastle United head coach slammed the officials' 'ridiculous' decision not to take another look at Jacob Murphy's penalty appeal in the defeat against Chelsea.
With the score still goalless, in the 57th minute, Murphy went down inside the area after Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah pulled his shirt. However, referee David Coote decided to give a corner kick rather than a penalty kick.
Howe felt it was a penalty at the time and the Newcastle boss was even more certain after watching a replay of the incident because Chalobah had 'ripped Murph's shirt off his back'. Howe was aghast that video assistant referee John Brooks did not instruct Coote to take another look on the pitchside monitor and thought the incident made a 'mockery of VAR'.
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"It's ridiculous," he told BBC Radio Five Live after Newcastle's 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge. "It's absolutely ridiculous. You're telling me...I don't want to get myself into trouble so I'll leave it there."
That was not the only decision that did not go Newcastle's way on Sunday, of course, and Kai Havertz was a little fortunate to stay on the pitch after catching Dan Burn with an elbow as the pair jumped for a header in the 39th minute. Havertz was booked after Coote felt that the Germany international had his eyes on the ball the whole time, but Burn thought it was 'a bit naughty' after he was left with a gash on his forehead.
While Thomas Tuchel did not see a replay of the incident, the Chelsea boss recognised his side may have been a little lucky. It was Havertz, after all, who popped up with the winning goal at the death to end Newcastle's nine-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.
"The challenge in the air? I did not look at it actually," Tuchel told Sky Sports. "I was a bit concerned from how the opponent went down and how he was hurt. I know Kai and he would never do it intentionally. I didn't see it so maybe it's better not to comment and if we got lucky, yeah, we admit it."
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