'Rubbish': Alan Shearer questions official decision to deny Newcastle United obvious penalty against Chelsea on Saturday
Newcastle United once again let a lead slip away to drop points in the Premier League, this time letting a two-goal lead fall through their fingers to come away with a single point against Chelsea on Saturday.
Newcastle looked comfortable and good value for their 2-0 lead going into the changing rooms at half time, although they should have had a bigger cushion after some big chances were missed.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca clearly fired a rocket into his players during the break; however, as they fought back to level the score, that's how it ended.
However, Newcastle were controversially denied a penalty after Anthony Gordon was charged off the ball by Trevoh Chalobah. There was no attempt to play the ball, and Gordon was sent flying, but the referee and VAR decided he was simply 'shielding' the ball.
Alan Shearer couldn't believe the penalty wasn't given
Even the TNT Commentary team couldn't believe it wasn't given, and while Enzo Maresca tried to say it was a fair challenge, he was very much in the minority. Alan Shearer, for instance, was fuming and utterly perplexed how it wasn't given, telling Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football that the explanation was 'rubbish'.
“I mean the penalty decision that they never got was absolutely ridiculous, honestly.
“Even the tweet the Premier League put out, and I know it’s what VAR are telling them, but to say he was shielding the ball?
“Rubbish! Shielding the ball? It was as clear a foul as you’re ever going to see. I’d love to know how you’ve got three professionals, you’ve got the referee on the pitch and you’ve got two VAR officials looking at that, slowing it down, and thinking, ‘Yeah, that’s alright, wasn’t a foul.’”
Andy Madley is certainly not on Newcastle United fans' Christmas Card list
As Eddie Howe said after the game, anywhere else on the pitch and that's a free-kick, so why it wasn't given is anyone's guess.
The referee started the game well, we thought, but after about half an hour, his grip on things got looser and looser, and he started to bottle big decisions, and it seems VAR was just happy to let him get on with it.
Andy Madley has angered Newcastle fans before, so we should have expected it, really.
