NafisaEddie Howe returned to the sidelines at St James’ Park on Saturday as his team faced off against relegation-threatened Ipswich Town. Despite having their head coach in the dugout for the first time in three matches, the Magpies began sluggishly against Kieran McKenna’s squad.
Ipswich created several opportunities in the early stages as Newcastle struggled to establish control against a stubborn defensive setup from their opponents.
However, they were the first to find the back of the net as Bruno Guimaraes scored a truly extraordinary opening goal—only for the referee’s whistle to halt their celebrations.
Bruno Guimaraes has Newcastle United goal disallowed v Ipswich Town:
The Brazilian believed he had put his side ahead when Town goalkeeper Alex Palmer failed to handle a high and arching header. What should have been a straightforward catch for the keeper resulted in the ball spinning off Guimaraes’ back and into the net.
However, a whistle from Salisbury signaled that the goal wouldn’t count before a swift VAR review upheld the decision, much to the protests of the goalscorer himself.
Initial replays suggest that Guimaraes did little wrong, but Palmer’s dramatic tumble was sufficient for both the referee and the technology to nullify the strike.
Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, former Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, admitted that he thought the officials were correct in their decision to disallow the goal.
“The referee immediately disallowed it,” Robinson said. “It was a horrible ball for the goalkeeper to deal with.
“Bruno Guimaraes is clever, he waits and gives Alex Palmer a nudge to knock him off balance – it was a foul.”
Premier League issue VAR statement
Moments later, an incident between Sam Morsy and Joe Willock also gave Salisbury something to ponder.
The off-the-ball clash between the pair was initially overlooked by the referee, with a VAR review briefly pausing play before it was allowed to resume.
The officials at Stockley Park were examining for violent conduct by the Ipswich captain on the former Arsenal player, but found no grounds to instruct Salisbury to dismiss him.
A statement made by the Premier League Match Centre on X explained why Morsy wasn’t shown a red card: ‘#NEWIPS – 27’ VAR checked for a potential red card against Morsy- and deemed that there was no act of violent conduct.’
On that clash as tensions escalated between both teams, an atmosphere that persisted on the pitch until both sides retreated to their respective dressing rooms, Robinson said: “The way VAR is – it’s always watching you. There’s something to watch between Sam Morsy and Joe Willock. There’s a needle between the two.”
An utterly frenetic first half wasn’t finished there, though, as the visitors were then reduced to ten men when Ben Johnson received two yellow cards. The first was for diving before he then impeded Alexander Isak as he aimed to penetrate the box.
Premier League issue second VAR statement
And, after all that, Salisbury still had time to award the hosts a penalty following a foul by Julio Enciso on Jacob Murphy. The spot-kick was calmly converted by Isak as Howe’s side went into the break in the lead.
Enciso, who is on loan at the Tractor Boys from Brighton, was deemed to have tugged Murphy as the Magpies player evaded a challenge.
Again taking to X to clarify the decision, the PL Match Centre wrote: ‘#NEWIPS – 45+1 VAR OVERTURN VAR checked the referee’s call of no penalty to Newcastle United for a challenge by Enciso on Murphy – and deemed Enciso committed a pulling offence and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and awarded a penalty to Newcastle.’
Nafisa
