Mark Clattenburg has given his verdict on Bruno Guimaraes’ disallowed goal in Newcastle United’s win over Ipswich Town.
Newcastle United returned to winning ways in fine style over Ipswich Town, dominating the Tractor Boys in a 3-0 win and condemning them to relegation back to the Championship in the process.
Eddie Howe was back in the dug-out to watch a feisty first half, with Alexander Isak breaking the deadlock from the penalty spot just before the half-time whistle.
Dan Burn and Will Osula both bagged headers to round off the scoring in a comfortable win but Newcastle could have taken the lead even earlier.
Bruno Guimaraes thought he’d found the opener midway through the first half when the ball bounced off him and into the net.
However, referee Michael Sailsbury disallowed the goal due to a foul on goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
Replays suggested Guimaraes had done little to constitute a foul being awarded but Mark Clattenburg agrees with the referee’s decision.
Mark Clattenburg explains why Bruno Guimaraes goal was disallowed
Speaking exclusively to Geordie Boot Boys, Clattenburg explained the goal was rightly disallowed as Guimaraes looked for the contact with the goalkeeper.
He said: “This one will create debate and it’s the one that should stay on the field of play.
“Michael Salisbury awarded a foul after the ball had gone inside the goal and therefore, I didn’t expect the VAR to overturn the decision.
“Vice versa, I think if the referee had awarded a goal, I’m not sure the VAR would have recommended a review.
“What you do see here is Guimaraes goes towards the space of the goalkeeper who’s coming out to claim the ball.
“The problem here is Guimaraes is clearly looking at the goalkeeper and not the ball and therefore it’s not a direct duel for the ball.
“If Guimaraes is focusing on the ball, then the contact by Guimaraes on the goalkeeper would be a natural contact.
“However, he clearly looks at the goalkeeper and he wants to create a contact on the goalkeeper and therefore creating a foul.
“If there wasn’t a contact on the goalkeeper, I’m sure the goalkeeper would have claimed the ball. So that contact was deemed unfair.
“However, I believe some will believe that Palmer should be stronger in his actions, and therefore, the contact wasn’t enough to award a foul.
“I’m on the side of awarding a foul. I think most referees in this situation would award a foul.
“Goalkeepers have this protection, that any contact would normally result in a foul because it would knock their balance and therefore not catching the ball.
“It’s different when two players are are jumping for the ball, of course, but some will argue that he should be stronger, but, in my case, I think most referees would give a foul in this situation and it’s one that is a safe decision to give and it’s probably less controversial than awarding a goal.”
Newcastle back in the driving seat for a Champions League place
The defeat to Aston Villa last weekend could have proven a costly one in the race for a Champions League place, with Unai Emery’s side desperately aiming to return to Europe’s top competition.
But the comfortable victory has put Newcastle back in the driving seat to at least finish in a top-five position, even if Manchester City are coming into form at the worryingly right time.
The pressure was on after the Blues defeated Aston Villa late on in the week but Newcastle are back up to third in the Premier League table, though they only have a one-point advantage.
An extremely difficult run of three fixtures now awaits the Magpies as they travel to Brighton next Sunday before facing Chelsea in a pivotal clash and then fellow Londoners Arsenal. It’s not finished yet.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
