‘I would be complaining’… VAR told there was a major mistake during Newcastle United vs Brentford

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Newcastle United can thank VAR for their victory over Brentford on Wednesday night.

That is the view of Micah Richards, who has suggested that a major mistake was made during Newcastle’s win over Brentford.

The Magpies followed up their Carabao Cup final triumph with a win over the Bees, with Sandro Tonali scoring Newcastle’s winner. However, the midfielder has admitted that he was actually trying to put a cross into the box.

Newcastle United got a slice of good fortune, and Micah Richards believes that good fortune continued in stoppage time.

Brentford’s penalty appeals against Newcastle United

Brentford scored a penalty in the second half after Nick Pope fouled Yoana Wissa. It was the correct decision, with Bryan Mbeumo converting from 12 yards.

However, Brentford then had two more penalty appeals turned down. Both came from challenges by Bruno Guimaraes on Mikkel Damsgaard.

The first saw Bruno nudge Damsgaard in the back. Brentford boss Thomas Frank thought this was a penalty.

The second came in stoppage time, as Bruno and Damsgaard challenged for the ball inside the box. Both players went to ground, with Frank insisting that the correct decision was made not to award a penalty.

Micah Richards delivers penalty verdict after Newcastle beat Brentford

However, Micah Richards disagrees with the Brentford manager on both penalty decisions.

Speaking on Match Of The Day, Richards believes the first appeal was not a penalty, but states that the second should have resulted in Peter Bankes pointing to the spot for the second time.

“The first one on him from Bruno, I don’t think this is a penalty,” he said.

“I think it’s a little bit soft. Bruno does exactly what he’s supposed to do as a midfielder. Damsgaard goes down a little bit too easy. No penalty for me.

“But this one [the incident in stoppage time], I think potentially this could be the one that I would be complaining about. He [Bruno] takes him out in the box. I know people are saying he might get a little touch on the ball, but he takes him out.

“I think that’s a penalty, I really do. It’s more a penalty than the first one.”

Who will referee Leicester City vs Newcastle United

After surviving a couple of penalty scares to beat Brentford, Newcastle United’s next game is against Leicester City.

The Magpies travel to the King Power Stadium on Monday night, as they aim to make it a hat-trick of Premier League wins.

That game will be refereed by Rob Jones, while the VAR official is Alex Chilowicz. He is a 37-year-old referee from America who has been working in English football since 2023.