‘No consistency’ - Alan Shearer disagrees with Newcastle United star over key Brentford incident

Alan Shearer insists Newcastle United were lucky to be awarded a penalty during their 1-0 victory over Brentford on Saturday evening.

Callum Wilson converted from the spot in the 64th minute after referee Craig Pawson penalised Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken for bringing down Anthony Gordon on the byline.

The victory ended United’s three-match Premier League losing streak but Shearer believes Wilson’s winning moment was a tad fortunate.

“After three defeats, the result today was far more important than the performance but I totally understand Thomas Frank’s frustration,” Shearer told Match of the Day. “Just to prove I’m not biased, I don’t think this is a penalty.

“The way he [Thomas Frank] summed it up was perfect because I do think Anthony Gordon leaves his leg in there. There is contact but Anthony Gordon makes the contact, he sticks his right leg out. I just think the goalkeeper is pulling out.

“[Kevin] Schade on Guglielmo Vicario first game of the season... we were told it was an inevitable collision. You can understand there is no consistency at all but I didn’t think that was a penalty today.”

Gordon, however, disagrees with the Premier League’s record goalscorer.

“From what I can remember it was a lose ball and I’ve reacted first, sprinted, got their first and the keeper wiped me out,” the former Everton man told Premier League Productions. “I was delighted when he wiped me out.

“I don’t understand if there is any controversy because he clearly wipes me out. I get their first he wiped my foot and it’s a clear penalty.”

While Shearer also agreed the penalty given for a handball on Bryan Mbeumo was correctly overturned, the Magpies legend did slam Pawson for his “weak” officiating when disallowing Wilson’s early second-half goal.

Nevertheless, Brentford boss Thomas Frank felt the match was decided by a refereeing error.

The Dane said: Unfortunately it was decided by a decision that had nothing to do with the two teams, just the ref. But in terms of character, willpower, the way we pressed and played, we could have won this game.

“I don’t think it’s a penalty. We got trolled in a similar situation a some weeks ago against Tottenham when Kevin Schade was through, clear contact with the keeper took him out but apparently he (the keeper) pulled out before. And they also talked about a situation between Arsenal and Manchester City but that was penalty awarded.

“But going forward these should not be penalties. We have a keeper clearly pulling out and a player cleverly letting his leg hang there. It’s not a penalty.

“If the assistant didn’t take the decision, it should 100% be humans making the decisions like that, then I’m convinced that VAR would not have overturned the decision, so I think that’s a problem.

“But because it’s not clear and obvious, it’s too tight. Now we will have a situation where Howard Webb will come out and apologise about the situation and say ‘we’re sorry’, I just think it’s too many time but it can happen.”