Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe was left incensed after his side were denied what he labelled a "stonewall" penalty during a dramatic 2-2 Premier League draw with Chelsea at St James' Park.
Controversial Call Mars Thrilling Encounter
The flashpoint occurred in the 53rd minute with the score at 2-1 to the hosts. Winger Anthony Gordon went down under a challenge from Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah inside the penalty area, but referee Andy Madley immediately waved away the appeals.
The decision was then reviewed by video assistant referee Peter Bankes, who upheld the on-field call, leaving the Newcastle bench in disbelief. Howe was adamant it was a clear error. "I think it's a clear penalty. I think anywhere else on the pitch, that's a free-kick," the Magpies' head coach told TNT Sports.
He added: "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. The defender only focuses on Ant. They said it's shielding, but I don't agree with that analysis. I'm really disappointed that wasn't given."
Newcastle Let Two-Goal Lead Slip
The controversial moment overshadowed a match of two starkly different halves. Newcastle, looking to bounce back from a derby defeat to Sunderland, roared into a 2-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes. Nick Woltemade was the beneficiary, scoring from close range after Robert Sanchez saved from Gordon, before doubling his tally with a neat finish from another Gordon cross.
Chelsea, however, staged a impressive second-half fightback. Reece James's superb 49th-minute free-kick gave them a lifeline, and the pressure told when Joao Pedro capitalised on a defensive slip by Malick Thiaw to level the scores with 24 minutes remaining.
Managers Divided on Deserved Outcome
Howe expressed his profound disappointment at not securing all three points. "It's tinged with huge disappointment for us," he said. "We deserved to win that game, in my opinion anyway. The only real disappointment in the first half... is that we weren't further ahead."
In contrast, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca felt his team might have even snatched a victory after the interval. "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," Maresca stated.
The Chelsea manager also dismissed suggestions he had endured a difficult week, amid speculation linking him with Manchester City and questions over club support. "My last week has not been complicated, it has been good," he insisted, referencing wins over Everton and Cardiff prior to the draw on Tyneside.
