‘Lucky’: Tim Howard thinks Newcastle 25-year-old really should have been sent off vs West Ham

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Bruno Guimaraes celebrated signing a new contract with Newcastle United on Saturday, but on Sunday he was a very lucky boy.

One day after extending his stay with Newcastle until 2028, the 25-year-old was very lucky not to receive the second red card of his Toon career during the 2-2 draw with West Ham United.

His first came during the Magpies’ Carabao Cup semi final win over Southampton last season, where he was given a straight red card for a high challenge on Samuel Edozie.

This time it would have been for two yellows, but the Brazilian was spared by referee Peter Bankes.

Bruno received a booking in the 17th minute, picking up a yellow card for a cynical trip on West Ham defender Emerson Palmieri.

He was then lucky not to be given a second just moments later for a foul on James Ward-Prowse. This challenge was less cynical. There was a genuine attempt to win the ball, but he missed it and took out the England international instead.

There were loud calls from West Ham for Bruno to be sent off, but Bankes decided that the foul was not worthy of a second yellow card.

However, pundit Tim Howard believes that Bruno was very lucky at the London Stadium.

Tim Howard thinks Bruno Guimaraes should have been sent off vs West Ham

Howard was on punditry duty for NBC Sports’ coverage of West Ham United vs Newcastle United, and gave his opinion on Bruno narrowly avoiding a red card in the first half.

“I think he’s lucky,” he said.

“Peter Bankes books him for this trip on Emerson. It’s absolutely a yellow card. That’s obvious.

“Just a minute later, Ward-Prowse goes through again and Peter Bankes is there – Peter Bankes is the closest person to it. I think he lets him off the hook here. I really think he lets him off the hook. It’s probably a second booking.”

Newcastle got lucky in the first half

There would have been no complaints if Bruno had been sent off during the first half against West Ham. He got extremely lucky not to receive a second yellow card.

After that moment, it was an incredibly disciplined performance from Bruno. He was exceptional in the second half, and played a key role in Alexander Isak’s second goal.

All the talk after the game will be about how Bruno should have been sent off, but it was far from a disgraceful decision. The referee let plenty of other similar fouls go unpunished following the Bruno incident, although West Ham fans will feel massively aggrieved.