Eddie Howe bemoans decision to disallow goal in tight Crystal Palace encounter

NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has slammed the decision to disallow what looked to be a Newcastle United winner against Crystal Palace.

With the Magpies dominant but struggling to break down a resolute Palace defense, United looked to have done just that when Tyrick Mitchell turned the ball into his own net.

Having given the goal, referee Michael Salisbury was then told to check his decision with use of the VAR screen at the side of the St James’ Park pitch. And after some deliberation, he chalked off the own goal for a foul on Palace keeper Vicente Guaita, with the match ending 0-0.

However, replays showed Mitchell shoved Joe Willock into Guaita before turning into his own net.

And Howe was not impressed with the decision which cost his side two valuable Premier League points on home turf.

“I didn’t think it should be disallowed,” said the head coach.

“I thought it was a push on Joe Willock in the build up to the ball coming in. Joe’s momentum is fixed from that point and carries him into the goalkeeper.

“Without that push, there’s no way Joe would have gone in with that force. For me it’s not a foul, if anything it’s a penalty. I was very surprised with the outcome.”

When pushed on why officials may have come to that decision, Howe elaborated.

He said: “I think they (the officials) were swayed by the fact — and this is just my opinion — that the goalkeeper stayed down. And that ultimately led to the goal being disallowed.”

United have now drawn four of their first six Premier League games this season, recording just one win. However, it is a return which does not quite represent the sum of their efforts, with performances and chances created much improved from this time last season.

“Yeah, very much so,” Howe said