Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has criticised Ciaran Clark for his ‘stupid’ challenge which led to Brighton and Hove Albion’s opening goal in last night’s 1-1 draw.
The Republic of Ireland international was deemed to have fouled Leandro Trossard after a long VAR check and gave away a penalty.
The Belgian put his penalty down the middle and sent Karl Darlow the wrong way to give the Seagulls the lead in the 24th minute.
Shearer felt that Clark shouldn’t have been making that challenge inside the penalty area, but also highlighted the issues that VAR still poses.
Speaking on last night’s Match of the Day, Shearer said: “First of all, it’s a stupid challenge from Clark, he should never make that challenge there, but I think Trossard knows what he’s doing.
“If the referee [David Coote] gives that straight away then I’d say okay you have to accept that’s a penalty, but he doesn’t, he’s only 10 yards away.
“If it was a clear and obvious error, or a howler, why does it then take two minutes to get to the decision and eight slow motion angles of it?”
Mixed night’s work for Clark
With Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall accompanying Amanda Staveley at the Amex Stadium, Clark atoned for his earlier mishap by heading down a Matt Ritchie cross into the path of Isaac Hayden, who showed great composure to clinically slot the ball past Robert Sanchez.
In Graeme Jones’ three matches in interim charge of the Magpies, Clark has played in a back five alongside fellow centre-backs Jamal Lascelles and Emil Krafth.
But with the former Bournemouth manager expected to be announced as the Saudi-led consortium’s new manager, Clark could find himself under pressure to retain his place in the starting line-up from the likes of Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez.
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