Manchester United moved above Newcastle United in the Premier League table at the weekend, but got a huge slice of good fortune at the City Ground.
After Newcastle lost to Aston Villa on Saturday, Man United knew that a point would be enough to lift them back into third.
They ended up taking all three, easing past Nottingham Forest to win 2-0 after goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot. It was a convincing win for the Red Devils, although they did suffer a huge penalty scare early in the first half when the score was level.
Forest defender and Newcastle target Renan Lodi whipped in a deep corner to the back post, and it appeared to make contact with Harry Maguire’s arm. Replays proved just that, but the referee failed to point to the spot. The decision was not overturned by VAR either, with Man United massively getting away with one.
It looked like a stonewall penalty, and now former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has given his view on the incident.
Man United penalty call was the right decision says Dermot Gallagher
Gallagher has spoke to Sky Sports News on Monday, and explained why he thinks the referee was right not to give Nottingham Forest a penalty.
“I understand why he didn’t give it,” he said.
“It’s so congested. I think two players to go head the ball. I feel also Maguire might head it himself first, but when you look at it he runs the risk under the new directives about his arm being up, but then everyone’s arm is up.
“So looking at it, I think we’d probably be debating more if the referee had given a penalty than what we are now.”
Newcastle will ask where the consistency is
The decision not to give a penalty impacted Newcastle, as it allowed Man United to go on and secure a victory that allowed them to leapfrog the Magpies into third.
They might have still gone on to win, but Forest getting a penalty certainly would have changed the complexion of the game.
The decision will also remind Toon fans of one that went against us last week. Callum Wilson thought he had scored against Brentford, but it was chalked off due to a handball. That is despite the fact he made no movement towards the ball, and it even appeared to hit him quite high on the arm.
One week later and the ball clearly hits Maguire on the arm in the penalty area, yet a spot kick isn’t given. Gallagher reckons it was too congested, but what has that got to do with anything? If it hits his arm, it hits his arm. And it was certainly in an unnatural position.
The decision upset Forest fans, and it irritated the Toon Army too. And those feelings won’t have changed after hearing Gallagher’s assessment of the situation.
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