Rafa Benitez has once again maintained Newcastle United’s status in the Premier League.
Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas have disagreed over the referee’s decision to showcase James Ward-Prowse with a yellow card during Newcastle’s 3-1 win against Southampton at St James’ Park on Saturday evening.
Whilst the home team were on the counter-attack, a 2 on 1 situation in their favour, Ward-Prowse opted to take out Miguel Almiron, who would have had a clear-cut chance at goal and with Salomon Rondon beside him.
The Saints midfielder was only shown a yellow for his professional foul, with the offence taking place in Newcastle’s defensive half.
Speaking to Match of the Day on BBC One (20/04/2019 at 10:55 pm), Shearer felt it wasn’t a sending off, whilst Jenas felt a yellow card ‘wasn’t enough’.
“No, I don’t think so [on whether it should have been a red],” Shearer told Match of the Day. “You have to take into the account the distance between the offence and the goal [69 yards] that’s in the law. I know they’d probably go on to score, 2 v 1 and the chance there. In the referee’s defence, that is the law and he gets that right.
Jenas added: “That’s what I don’t like about it. There is a goal there to be had. A 2 v 1 with a goalkeeper, it’s going to be a tap-in. And just a yellow card from it is not enough.”
In the end, the incident didn’t have an impact on the game because Rafa Benitez’s side secured a deserved three points in front of their jubilant supporters.
Ayoze Perez struck a hat-trick against a Southampton team that is yet to secure their status in England’s top-flight for next season, but they may have done enough.
Whilst the yellow card incident at the time wouldn’t have impressed Benitez, he will be pleased with the manner in which his team have been performing in recent weeks.
