‘I can see’ - Newcastle United supporters won’t like ex-Premier League referee’s verdict

Newcastle United supporters have been told to consider themselves lucky to have seen their side awarded a penalty against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday evening by a former Premier League referee.

The Magpies came away from Molineux with another point to their name and, despite a decent showing, can perhaps consider themselves a little lucky to have not left empty-handed.

Gary O'Neil's side had to come back from a one-goal deficit twice against the Magpies to ensure the match finished with the spoils shared. Callum Wilson opened the scoring for Newcastle United in the 22nd minute before Mario Lemina pulled one back in the 36th minute. Wilson then bagged his brace just before half time when Hwang Hee-chan was deemed to have taken out Fabian Schar in the penalty box - before the Wolves man later levelled the scores.

The penalty proved a key moment in the match with on-field referee Anthony Taylor giving a spot-kick straight away. A two-minute VAR review followed and, although it appeared that Hwang had withdrawn from the challenge, Taylor's original decision stood.

Analysing that moment as part of SkySports' Ref Watch series, Dermot Gallagher said: "It's not a penalty for me. I can see why the referee gave it, but you only had to see one replay to know it wasn't a foul. It was looked at so many times. I just can't see a foul."

Unsurprisingly, Wolves boss Gary O'Neill shared a similar view to Gallagher and blasted another 'terrible' decision by Premier League referees. "Second goal is never, ever a penalty," the boss stated.

Eddie Howe sat a little more on the fence with the decision but seemed to accept that his Magpies side had perhaps been on the lucky end of a controversial call in the match.

Speaking after full-time, Howe said: "It was one of those, it was a strange one. I'd need to see it again, I've only seen it live. It looked like a coming together, Fabi [Fabian Schar] maybe nicked the ball first before there was contact but there was a little bit of a delay before the penalty was given so I was aware that it was going to be a tight call."