An image (originally taken from peacocktv.com coverage) from the most recent Newcastle United vs Leeds United game suggests that VAR may have been worth taking a close look at one particular incident.
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In their second Premier League game back after the break for the winter World Cup, having beaten Leicester City 3-0 on Boxing Day, the Magpies hosted Leeds United at St James Park.
Despite coming into the game in fine form, unbeaten in all competitions since August, Eddie Howe’s men couldn’t pick up a win in front of their own fans and had to settle for just a point in a 0-0 draw.
However, the game could have been very different had referee Hooper pointed to the spot when Tyler Adams and Fabian Schar came together inside the penalty box.
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Schar knocks the ball into space in the box, at which point Adams’ left leg moves across in front of the defender which causes a tangle of legs which brings the Newcastle man to the ground.
We believe this is something that should’ve received more attention than it did during the game with it seemingly being disregarded by VAR.
Although, this is the type of foul you can see from both ways, with Adams seemingly showing no intention to bring him down just simply closing the gap a bit too much to Schar which ended up upending him. But, you could also say that regardless of whether it was intentional or not he has ended up bringing him down in a bit of a clumsy manner with both players running towards the ball, and you would have to say that Schar looks the more likely to retrieve the ball should he have remained on his feet.
We are in no way stating that there was 100% an error made but perhaps a look at the monitor would have been beneficial in this instance, as Brenden Aaronson’s position would have likely blocked the referee’s view of the challenge. This would have allowed the referee to take a proper look at the incident and come to a proper decision, though he could have easily still stayed with his original decision as it isn’t exactly a clear cut incident.
Seeing as the game ended up as a goalless draw, this would have provided a crucial moment for the Magpies to take the lead in what was a fairly tight game.
Saying that, the home team did have 59 per cent possession, and managed twice as many shots at goal (16 to Leeds’ eight), with five on target (with Nick Pope facing just one), and had six more concerns (nine) than their opposition.
All in all, it just wasn’t to be for Newcastle as they just had one of those days. Still, they remain third in the Premier League for now.
