Former referee reveals Manchester United should have been awarded penalty vs Newcastle

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has admitted that Manchester United should have been awarded a penalty against Newcastle on Sunday.

Erik ten Hag's side failed to break the deadlock at Old Trafford despite being presented with a handful of golden opportunities, with Marcus Rashford and Fred both guilty of missing clear-cut chances to put United in front.

Referee Craig Pawson came under the spotlight after the game following a number of contentious decisions during the match. Sean Longstaff appeared to foul Jadon Sancho in the box, yet the referee waved away United's appeals. Gallagher has now had his say on the incident, admitting that he thought Pawson was wrong not to award the Reds a penalty.

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He told Sky Sports: "I think it’s a penalty. When you see it he takes his foot. The referee’s position, I’m surprised it wasn’t given. Can’t see how that’s not a penalty, whether it’s how he’s gone to ground but VAR looked at it and said no. The referee has the perfect view and says no."

United had another appeal for a spot-kick later in the game after Ronaldo collided with Kieran Trippier. Gallagher believes that the referee made the right call on this occasion.

"I don’t think it’s a penalty. I think, if you look, Ronaldo comes across to him, they collide, no doubt about it," he said. "We see here he goes into Trippier as much as Trippier goes into him. For me, not a penalty."

Raphael Varane nearly had a nightmare start on his return to the starting XI as he appeared to catch Callum Wilson in United's penalty box with just 15 minutes played. Pawson waved away the appeals for a spot-kick as VAR upheld the decision,