Neil Lennon blasts Jonjo Shelvey over ‘leg-breaking’ incident in Everton clash v Newcastle United
Neil Lennon was furious with Jonjo Shelvey after the Newcastle United midfielder made a horrific challenge on Everton ace Anthony Gordon on Tuesday night.
In the first half of Everton’s XXX Newcastle at St James’ Park, 20-year-old Gordon was floored by a sickener of a challenge by Shelvey, who avoided a red card despite going into the tackle over the top of the ball and from behind.
It was a scissor-like movement by Shelvey as he brought Gordon down and ex-Celtic manager Lennon feels as though the Magpies man should’ve been sent off by referee Anthony Taylor.
“He has got his yellow card out but for me, it is a red [for Jonjo Shelvey’s tackle on Anthony Gordon],” said Lennon on BBC Radio 5 Live, as quoted on BBC Sport’s website on Tuesday night.
“It was totally unnecessary. That was just a mad rush of blood.
“He was lucky, but for me there was intent and it should be a red.
“That is a leg-breaking tackle.”
Lennon later added: “The tackle from Jonjo Shelvey on Anthony Gordon, for me there is no doubt it was a red card and I can’t accept that it has not been overturned to a red.
“He is just not having the same influence he was having, maybe it has taken a bit out of him.
“He had an excellent opening 20 minutes but has now just drifted out of it.”
Easily a red
We cannot believe that VAR didn’t give this a second look or make Taylor go to the pitch-side monitor to check the challenge again.
It was a horror challenge and you know that if Lennon, of all people, is saying it should have been a red card, it should have definitely been a sending off for Shelvey.
It wasn’t the only ugly challenge of the match by Newcastle with Fabian Schar scything down Richarlison in the second half.
Eddie Howe’s men really let their emotions get the better of them too many times on Tuesday night and they’re fortunate they didn’t cause any of our players to pick up a serious injury.
Gordon was on fire against the Magpies and clearly, they couldn’t handle the tricky 20-year-old attacker.
He’s got a bright future ahead of him, this lad. And referees need to do a better job at protecting players like him from thugs like Shelvey.
In other Everton news, Stan Collymore says it’s the “last-chance saloon” for this Evertonian ace.