Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has stated that Newcastle were hard done by in their last-gasp defeat to Norwich at the weekend.
Martin Olsson netted in injury time to break the visitors’ hearts at Carrow Road on Saturday, but there have been real question marks over whether the goal should have stood.
Jonny Howson looked to have handled the ball in the winning strike’s build-up, but this was not spotted by the officials.
Gallagher has stated that his view was that the goal should not have been allowed to stand and that the Tyneside outfit can feel slightly hard done by as a result.
“On Saturday I was watching this game live and I called handball straight away,” he told Sky Sports.
“I was sat next to another former referee who said no. The referee has got the best view and he thought no.
“That’s where we’re sat. We’re not sure. There needs to be a sit-down to say, ‘This is handball, this is not handball. This is why, this is why not.’”
The defeat leaves Rafa Benitez’s side staring into the abyss in 19th place, six points adrift of safety with seven games remaining.
The decision could well have a major role in determining Newcastle’s fate, especially given that Norwich are in the relegation scrap also.
Aleksandar Mitrovic had scored a brace from the bench to help the Magpies come back from a goal down twice but the fightback was all in vain after Olsson’s winner.
