Daniel Farke has bizarre take on key decision in Newcastle United and Leeds barnstormer on Wednesday night
Newcastle United and Leeds United played out a Premier League game for the ages under the lights at St James' Park on Wednesday night, with the Magpies edging a seven-goal thriller 4-3 thanks to Harvey Barnes scoring the latest winner in Premier League history on 112 minutes.
It was an epic game and one that's likely to be talked about for years to come, but there was one man who seemed desperate to make it all about him.
Referee Michael Salisbury had a nightmare of a game; the only real solace we can take from his performance is that he was equally poor for each side.
In the first half, Salisbury pointed to the spot for a handball as the ball hit Malick Thiaw on the arm as he was falling down. His arms were clearly out to break his fall, and there was little he could have done about it, but Salisbury wasted no time in pointing to the spot, and VAR would never overturn such a decision.
Daniel Farke seemed to forget the first-half penalty incident
Then, late in the second half, Salisbury did it again, pointing to the spot after the ball struck Brenden Aaronson's arm in the area. Again, he gave himself little time to think. Perhaps he was just keen to even things up.
With your biased glasses on its easy to argue for or against either penalty, but if you have an ounce of common sense, you weigh them up against each other and say that justice was probably served. Daniel Farke, however, had other ideas, instead choosing to focus only on the penalty awarded against him and criticising the referee on Match of the Day.
“Then, of course, late heartbreak for my lads in the 90th or 91st minute, a handball given,” Farke told reporters post-match. “The referee was very happy to give this situation without split-second wait and thinking about it.
“Aaronson has no intention to play the ball with the hand, no intention to make his body bigger. He's just hit by the ball from three yards.
“Anyway, handball given, 3-3, and then the last ten minutes was a bit like a basketball game. Both teams were unstoppable, out of control, they both went for it, and of course, if it's not a draw, one team was on the unlucky side and will be a bit accused of could being smarter in the game management."
We appreciate the tears
Not even a cursory mention of the controversial penalty Leeds profited from in the first half.
We get it, emotions are high after the game, and that incident was a lot more recent, but it just shows how much a biased view can warp your perception of the game.
But thanks for the tears, Daniel. We were getting low on supplies as the Mikel Arteta reservoir was starting to run dry.
