Eddie Howe almost laughed off suggestions that Newcastle United's complaints to the Premier League were being taken seriously last month. A carefully drafted letter was sent to top-flight chiefs after a spate of poor decisions around the festive period but Howe, with a smile, said recently: "Yes, we got a letter back and it was an enjoyable read and that's it."
Following Sunday's officiating farce at Stamford Bridge, Howe was asked again whether he intended to raise a fresh complaint on a day when Kai Havertz stayed on for elbowing Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy wasn't given a penalty after being dragged to the ground by his shirt by Trevoh Chalobah. Yet Howe - who called the VAR set-up on the day during the 1-0 defeat a 'mockery' - looks likely to simply focus on the next game at Everton on Thursday night.
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When asked about the prospect of another complaint to the Premier League, after David Coote and VAR man John Brooks' decisions at the Bridge, Howe said: "I don't know how I feel right now. I'm at a loss to explain their decision-making process, how they've come to that.
"There's obviously a flaw in how they've worked that today because I don't think anyone, no matter what team you support, will see that and go, 'That's not a penalty'. I think it's usually a waste of energy these things. So we'll wait and see."
Newcastle's initial complaint came after bad decisions against Leicester and Liverpool away. Back then James Maddison's dive went unpunished leading to a Leicester goal, Diogo Jota was allowed to score with Isaac Hayden lying on the ground injured and then to compound those decisions, Ederson's awful challenge on Ryan Fraser did not lead to a penalty in the home game against Man City.
United received a letter but not an apology back then which is unlike Everton who at least got a "sorry" from Professional Game Match Officials Limited chief Mike Riley after they did not get a penalty against Manchester City recently. Howe said in December: "All we’re asking for is some clarity on the decisions and how the officials have come to those decisions."
United won't be holding their breath on the apology front but the feeling of injustice after Chelsea is in the air on Tyneside. And it was a cruel way to end that nine-game unbeaten stretch.
