I thought the win and a few hours to cool off would calm me down but no - We need to talk about VAR again

Newcastle United beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 on their home turf on Sunday afternoon inflicting upon them only their second defeat of the season.

Eddie Howe's men had to fight from a goal behind despite the fact that the goal should never have happened. A blatant elbow to the chops by Ryan Yates on Tino Livramento was left to go unpunished while slightly mis-timed tackle by Dan Burn seconds afterwards resulted in a free-kick and a yellow card for Burn who will now miss the next game through suspension.

VAR allegedly checked and cleared the elbow incident while Tino remained on the deck getting treatment for a burst lip. The commentators believed it was a foul, but VAR weren't having it.

A few moments later referee Anthony Taylor awarded Nottingham Forest a corner which should have been a goal kick - granted VAR can't intervene here, but why not? After Newcastle dealt with the corner they conceded another free kick on the right side of the area which was whipped in and nodded home by Murillo. If Ryan Yates had been punished for his elbow in any way, that goal doesn't happen. It should have been a free-kick to Newcastle at least, and probably a sending off. Also if VAR could overturn incorrect corner decisions, that goal never happens.

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Words cannot describe the hatred for Ryan Yates in the NUFC Feed offices

Later in the half Ryan Yates (again) goes in on Sean Longstaff with his studs up, catching Longstaff on the thigh.

In any other game that's at least a yellow card, in this one it should have been a second yellow. Again, the rules around VAR saved him. VAR could award a red card but not a yellow. Mind, there are those who would deem that kind of challenge a red anyway.

When the insufferably horrible Yates did finally receive a booking it was for the most innocuous challenge he made all game.

What does VAR actually do now other than check for handball and offside?

We know that they nerfed VAR this season to allow the game to flow more, but at this point, is it even worth having? Once the semi-automated offsides come in, which is what VAR is mainly used for nowadays, is it even worth keeping it around?

If VAR couldn't do anything about that elbow, that 'corner' or that thigh ripper, then what's its purpose?

Newcastle going on to win the game 3-1 makes up for these indiscretions in some way, but at the same time, Yates is now free to play in Nottingham Forest's next game to be a vicious little irritant for someone else instead of serving a three-game ban like he deserves.