Malick Thiaw looked to have given Newcastle United the lead over Sunderland before his goal was ruled out and the Black Cats earned a famous win at St James’ Park
Malick Thiaw thought he’d scored a significant Newcastle goal(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Newcastle United defender Malick Thiaw was correctly denied a goal in the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland, according to a former Premier League official. Ex-assistant referee Darren Cann has said that Jacob Murphy’s interference from an offside position cost the Magpies their goal.
Eddie Howe’s side looked to have taken a key advantage in the second period when the German defender found the net. But Anthony Taylor quickly ruled out the goal to quash Newcastle celebrations.
The decision soon hurt even more as Brian Brobbey scored from close range in the 90th minute to ensure Newcastle’s heartbreak for the second time in a week. Anthony Gordon had opened the scoring at St James’ Park before Chemsdine Talbi’s first-half equaliser.
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Cann explained the decision to rule Thiaw’s goal out. “The match officials were spot on regarding the disallowed goal from Thiaw,” he said.
“Unfortunately for Newcastle, Jacob Murphy was standing in an offside position in front of Melker Ellborg the Sunderland keeper and in direct physical contact with him.
I”n law, the goal had to be disallowed. It was an excellent decision to spot this in real time (without the need for VAR) by Anthony Taylor and assistant referee Gary Beswick.”
Thiaw’s goal was ruled out before Sunderland went on to secure a late win(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
In the commentary box, former Arsenal ace Alan Smith felt Sunderland might have got away with one. He said: “Such a crowded box, Anthony Taylor sees something in the box nobody else did.
“Standing in front of the ‘keeper? Surely not. Well, yeah, Murphy is definitely not but interfering with the ‘keeper? Maybe Sunderland got away with one, perhaps.”
Smith reckoned Newcastle could have been suffering a hangover from their Champions League exit. “I wondered if there would be a sort of hangover for Newcastle after that Barcelona humiliation,” he added.
“I think, maybe physically, and physiologically we have seen it. Eddie Howe after that game said he and the coaches had work to do to bring them back.”
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher suggested that Newcastle could not match their local rivals physically. “Newcastle just cannot beat Sunderland,” he said.
“What a moment for them, they could not have dreamed about this in the last 10 years and do the double over their fierce rivals, their fans will remember this for some time.
“It was coming in the second half, Newcastle looked absolutely shattered and Sunderland deserved this in the second half.
“Newcastle could not match them physically in the second half and it was only right that Brobbey got the winning goal.”
The result meant Sunderland leapt one place above Newcastle in the Premier League table in 11th after securing a famous double over their arch-rivals, having defeated them 1-0 at home earlier in the season.