“You Won’t BELIEVE What Dermot Gallagher Just Said About Newcastle’s ‘Lucky Escape’! He Gets Away With It AGAIN – Fans Are FUMING Over This Penalty Scandal! Brentford 3-2 Steal!”
Newcastle United suffered their first home loss to Brentford in more than nine decades on Saturday, and although the Magpies had plenty to answer for themselves, the referee also had a significant say in how events unfolded.
In truth, Newcastle may have come out of this one better off than hard done by, because there was a strong argument that Brentford should have had a penalty inside the opening 90 seconds.
Kieran Trippier appeared to tug back Keane Lewis-Potter in the box, yet nothing was awarded. It was an early let-off that could easily have set a very different tone for the afternoon.
Brentford did eventually get their spot-kick, though it arrived in far more contentious circumstances.
Jacob Murphy was penalised for handball, a decision that sparked plenty of debate about intent and interpretation.
Later in the match, Newcastle were handed a penalty of their own when Bruno Guimaraes was brought down inside the area, ensuring both sides had reason to discuss the officiating long after the final whistle.
Of the major calls, it was Brentford’s penalties — both the one not given early on and the one that was awarded — that drew the most scrutiny.
Sky Sports sought the opinion of former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher to assess each flashpoint.
Starting with the Trippier incident, Gallagher suggested the Newcastle defender was fortunate to escape punishment.
He explained that Trippier would have had little grounds for complaint had a penalty been given. According to Gallagher, the defender clearly grabbed Lewis-Potter’s shirt.
However, he also noted that the Brentford player’s manner of going to ground may not have helped convince the referee, as it appeared slightly delayed.
Even so, Gallagher felt a penalty would have been justifiable.
He added that it would not have resulted in a red card, given the ball was moving away from goal and the goalkeeper was favourite to collect it. At most, a yellow card would have been shown.
Murphy’s handball proved even more divisive. While there was no suggestion of deliberate intent, the current laws of the game left little room for interpretation.
Gallagher focused firmly on the wording of the rules, pointing out that Murphy’s arm was extended and that he moved it back towards his body, making contact with the ball.
Crucially, the shot had been on target, strengthening the case for a penalty under the existing framework.
Former striker Jay Bothroyd, appearing alongside Gallagher, agreed with the outcome but dismissed claims that Murphy intentionally handled the ball.
He argued that Murphy was simply moving naturally across the box and that any contact was accidental.
Nevertheless, because the effort was heading goalwards, the correct decision under the rules was a penalty and a yellow card.
Elsewhere, Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy used Match of the Day to call for a return to punishing handball only when there is clear intent.
Many supporters share that view, longing for a shift back toward greater common sense in how such incidents are judged.
