Brentford boss Thomas Frank wants apology after penalty controversy in 1-0 loss to Newcastle United
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Brentford's Nathan Collins with Newcastle United's Callum Wilson at St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain, on Sept 16.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Brentford manager Thomas Frank is expecting an apology from referees’ chief Howard Webb following his side’s controversial 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United on Saturday.
The Dane’s team were beaten at St James’ Park, after Callum Wilson converted a second-half penalty awarded for Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken’s foul on Anthony Gordon.
It was the English striker’s eighth goal in his last seven league starts.
He has also now scored 15 of the 16 penalties he has taken in the Premier League, with only Matthew le Tissier, Danny Murphy and James Beattie netting a higher share among players to have taken as many as Wilson.
Said Wilson: “Pressure is for tyres. For me, practise (penalties) in training and on a match day you’ve done it so many times and it’s just repetition, stay composed and that’s what I did.”
The penalty was one of two given by referee Craig Pawson, although the second was rescinded after he was advised to review it.
Frank was convinced Newcastle should not have had either penalty and he believes Webb should be in touch to say sorry.
“It’s so rare that I complain about it because it’s human beings who make mistakes and we all make mistakes so that happens. But it’s extra frustrating when we do so many things right and lose because of that,” he said.
“We just got told four weeks ago when Kevin Schade went through against Tottenham (Hotspur), where the ’keeper took him out, that no, he pulled out before, so it can’t be a penalty. Mark pulled out before, now a penalty.
“It’s not the ref who has given it but the linesman, and he needs to be absolutely bang-on, 100 per cent sure if you want to decide an even game between two teams that gave each other a fantastic game, in fact.
“That means that VAR (the video assistant referee) have checked, but can’t do anything because it’s not a clear and obvious failure. I’m pretty sure that Howard Webb will come back to us and say ‘Sorry, we made a mistake’.”
Newcastle's three successive defeats before Brentford's visit had dampened expectations after an impressive campaign last term, where they lost only three of their final 14 matches.
Against a well-organised Brentford, Newcastle looked every inch a team out of form, with Bruno Guimaraes’ close-range header their only real chance of note in the opening period.
The Magpies were vastly improved after the break, with Wilson at the heart of all that was good about them.
“It wasn’t a fantastic performance from us but it was a gritty and determined one,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told Sky Sports.
“It was one that showed a response, especially from the Brighton performance (a 3-1 defeat). It’s a clean sheet and a massive three points for us, and now we can look forward.” AFP, REUTERS
