Newcastle United’s first goal against West Ham on Saturday should not have stood, according to former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher.
The Magpies opened proceedings in a thrilling 3-2 win in the capital thanks to a Ciaran Clark header from a Jonjo Shelvey free kick.
But according to Gallagher, the set piece, given for a foul by Issa Diop on Miguel Almiron, should not have been awarded.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, as quoted by the Chronicle, he said: “I think he’s got the wrong angle, I don’t think the defender touches him and I don’t think it’s a foul.
“The defender gets a yellow card and they score from the free-kick.”
OPINION
Gallagher is probably better qualified to talk about this than most of us, having been one of the top referees in the country in his day, but if we’re being completely honest, the Toon Army won’t care in the slightest whether or the goal should have stood, only that it did. Saturday’s game, you hope, could be a real turning point for the Toon Army. After all, this is the first time they have scored more than one under Steve Bruce, and even with the late scare of a potential fightback, they never really looked like losing this one. As for how they managed to look so bright, a lot of has to do with how much closer to Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin were playing to Joelinton. The Brazilian didn’t look anywhere near as isolated as he has in recent weeks, and it allowed the whole team to play with a greater fluidity and threat.
