Former referee gives verdict on Attwell’s penalty call in Everton v Newcastle
Former referee Dermot Gallagher has said that Stuart Attwell was right to give Newcastle a penalty against Everton in the 2-1 loss to the Magpies on Sunday.
Newcastle were awarded a penalty early in the second half after Andre Gomes brought down Callum Wilson while defending a corner.
Attwell gave the spot-kick immediately but it was a contentious decision at best. But, speaking to Sky Sports Gallagher said that the decision was correct.
He said, “I do not think he [Gomes] means to do it, he goes to swing at the ball and he does not realise that Wilson has come across. But when you see it, he actually catches him with his knee in the back of the thigh, he realises he has done it straight away and the referee [Stuart Attwell] has no option but to give a penalty”.
Wilson scored the penalty which handed the momentum to the home side as the former Bournemouth striker doubled Newcastle’s lead late on.
A very late Dominic Calvert-Lewin goal gave hope to the Toffees but an excellent save from Karl Darlow prevented Everton from grabbing an equaliser in the six minutes of injury time.
Even though Everton were missing Richarlison and Lucas Digne through suspension and James Rodriguez through injury, the performance on Tyneside wasn’t good enough from the players who did start the match.
One positive to take from the game was the impressive debut performance from new goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Despite conceding two goals the Swede made several vital saves that kept his side in the game and if Everton had managed to salvage a draw he would’ve surely won the man of the match award for making sure Newcastle only scored two.
Perhaps he will keep his place in the starting 11 when the Toffees take on Manchester United in their next game.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have been monitoring a Championship defender ahead of the January transfer window.