Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer analyzed his former club’s 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers and expressed his views on the controversial penalty decision during the match.
Shearer believed that Newcastle United were fortunate to be awarded a penalty during the 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Magpies had a 2-2 draw at Molineux, with Callum Wilson scoring twice for Newcastle and Mario Lemina and Hee-Chan Hwang equalizing for Wolves. The controversial moment came when Fabian Schar went down in the box following a challenge by Hwang. Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot, and the decision stood after a lengthy VAR check. Wolves manager Gary O’Neil criticized the decision, calling it “terrible.” Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day, shared his perspective, saying he didn’t think it was a penalty. He also expressed understanding for why the referee gave it initially but couldn’t see a clear reason why it wasn’t overturned after numerous video replays. Shearer stated that if such a decision were given against him, he would be livid.
Even Newcastle’s head coach, Eddie Howe, acknowledged that the decision was “contentious,” and O’Neil expressed his frustration during his post-match press conference, calling it a “scandalous decision” and criticizing VAR’s lack of intervention.
Despite the controversy surrounding the penalty decision, Shearer believed that a draw was a fair result. He highlighted the growing threat posed by Wolverhampton Wanderers, particularly in the second half, due to their pace and ability. Shearer noted that Newcastle appeared fatigued and were running out of attacking options, and Wolves were becoming a more significant threat. Hwang’s sixth goal of the season, a fantastic finish, secured the 2-2 draw. Shearer concluded that a draw was the right outcome in the end.