Neil Lennon blasts Fabian Schar over ‘shocker’ incident in Newcastle United win v Everton
Neil Lennon questioned Anthony Taylor’s refereeing performance as Everton lost 3-1 away at Newcastle United on Tuesday night.
In the first half, Jonjo Shelvey was booked for a scissor-like lunge on Anthony Gordon while after the break, Lennon was less than impressed by Andre Gomes getting the same punishment for pulling a Newcastle player’s shirt.
Lennon was also critical of a challenge from Fabian Schar on Everton’s Richarlison after the Brazil winger outpaced the Magpies man on the wing.
“It was a free-kick but not sure it was a yellow card,” said Lennon on BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday night [8 February], as quoted by BBC Sport’s website when discussing Gomes’ booking.
“I would be frustrated if I was Frank Lampard.
“Jonjo Shelvey gets booked in the first half for a tackle that could have broken Anthony Gordon’s leg, then Andre Gomes gets a yellow for tugging someone’s shirt.”
After Schar hacked down Richarlison, Lennon added: “That was a shocker from Fabian Schar – a clear yellow. Richarlison is exposing his lack of pace.”
Poor performance
Listen, it was a poor performance by on-pitch referee Taylor and VAR Chris Kavanagh.
It’s unexplainable as to how Shelvey’s challenge on Gordon didn’t merit more of a punishment or at least a proper review by VAR.
Taylor should’ve been at least made to look at the pitchside monitor. If he watched it again and stood by his on-field decision then we could understand that a bit more.
We wouldn’t agree with it, but at least he would have done everything he could have done to ensure he was making what he thought was the correct decision.
Schar’s challenge was definitely a yellow card. He wasn’t denying a clear goalscoring opportunity as Richarlison was out wide and Newcastle would’ve had someone back to cover. However, it was an ugly challenge by the Swiss defender.
As for Gomes’ yellow card, that’s clear. You cannot pull on someone’s shirt but it’s baffling that he got the same punishment for that as Shelvey did for a disgustingly bad challenge on Gordon.
In other Everton news, Allan Saint-Maximin took a swipe at an Everton fan on Twitter after the game.