Howe: Newcastle Denied ‘Clear Penalty’ vs. Chelsea

Newcastle United

‘s hopes of securing a crucial win against Chelsea were dashed when referee Andy Madley and VAR Peter Bankes failed to award a “clear” penalty in the 53rd minute. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe expressed his disappointment at the decision, citing that the challenge by Trevoh Chalobah on Anthony Gordon was a blatant foul.

Disappointing Draw for Newcastle

The Magpies, who had roared out of the blocks in the first half, were 2-0 up within 20 minutes. Nick Woltemade scored twice, with his second goal coming from a Gordon cross. However, Chelsea‘s Reece James’ 49th-minute free-kick sparked a comeback, and the visitors eventually drew level through João Pedro’s goal with 24 minutes remaining.

Howe’s Disappointment

Eddie Howe expressed his disappointment at the result, stating that his team deserved to win the game. He praised the team’s performance in the first half, citing their energy, intensity, and quality. However, he was left frustrated by the lack of a penalty award, which he believed was a clear error.

Chelsea’s Character

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, on the other hand, felt that his team showed huge character in responding to adversity. He praised his team’s second-half display, stating that they deserved to win the game. Maresca also downplayed the controversy surrounding the penalty decision, stating that the draw was correct.

Post-Match Quotes

Eddie Howe: “Anywhere else on the pitch, that’s a blatant free kick. When it went to VAR, I thought, ‘This is going to be overturned, it’s a clear error.’ It’s as clear a penalty as I’ve seen.”
Enzo Maresca: “I think after the first half, they deserved to win the game, for sure. From my point of view after the second half, we deserved to win the game. This is my point of view.”

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