Newcastle United and West Ham United played out a barnstorming Premier League encounter on Saturday.
After the lifeless international week saw England further showcase why they won’t win a major tournament under Gareth Southgate, club football was back with a bang!
Newcastle and West Ham, who are pushing for Europa League football, resumed proceedings in the early kick-off with a seven-goal thriller that had some controversial moments.
The home team were awarded two penalties during the game – both converted by Alexander Isak, before Harvey Barnes scored a thunderous late winner to help his team come from 3-1 down to win the contest 4-3.
After the game, Andy Cole and Peter Schmeichel agreed that the home side shouldn’t have been awarded both penalties.
Anthony Gordon, who was red-carded towards the end, won them both, including a supposed foul by the struggling Kalvin Phillips in the second half.
Andy Cole admitted that calls such as these are ‘driving me mad’ because he feels the penalties being awarded in today’s game simply aren’t penalties, as he told MatchDay Extra on Premier League Productions (30/03/24 at 10:35 pm).
And he was backed up by his former Manchester United teammate who added, ‘if that’s a penalty then I am done’.
Newcastle United penalties v West Ham
“I’m not happy,” said Cole. “I really can’t see these penalties, at the moment.
“They’re not penalties. The one last week isn’t a penalty. It’s driving me mad. These decisions are shocking – it’s a foul the other way (second penalty).”
Peter Schmeichel added: “I am with you, this is the second penalty, I don’t know where football is going. If you allow to stick the foot in front of somebody that is about to kick a ball and he is completely unaware of his presence. He’s not attempting to play the ball. Hello?! If that’s a penalty, then I am done.”
West Ham shoot themselves in the foot
These are more dropped points for the Hammers and further pressure being put on the shoulders of David Moyes.
At 3-1, West Ham had it in their hands. They reacted very well to going 1-0 down very early on.
But as they did against Aston Villa before the international break, the team shot themselves in the foot, opened the door and Newcastle left themselves in.
Yes, you can question those penalty calls, but Newcastle suffered injury on top of injury AGAIN, yet they still performed like they had everyone fit and available to them.
