Garth Crooks declares ‘Outstanding Refereeing’ at St James’ Park on Saturday

6 months ago 36

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Garth Crooks has been talking about the game at St James’ Park on Saturday.

Newcastle United drawing 1-1 with Brighton in their final home match of the season.

The Seagulls taking a shock lead on 18 minutes when poor defending on a corner allowed Veltman to score at the back post.

Sean Longstaff equalising on the stroker of half-time.

However, Garth Crooks wanting to praise somebody who wasn’t on either team on Saturday…

Garth Crooks talking to BBC Sport – 14 May 2024:

‘Outstanding refereeing by Darren England who gave two yellow cards to players who dived in order to gain an advantage during Newcastle’s draw with Brighton.

Brighton’s Julio Enciso and Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron ought to be ashamed of themselves.’

Match of The Day presenter Gary Lineker labelled it, the ‘Paraguayan Diving Team’ in action.

Enciso had been Brighton’s best player and biggest threat BUT also very embarrassing as he constantly moaned about the physicality of Newcastle challenges on him. So in the second half the ball was played into his feet with back to goal, Enciso flicks the ball but as he turns, after a delayed reaction, throws himself theatrically to the ground. Krafth was nowhere near making contact and the referee booked the Paraguayan star.

Late in added time, Miguel Almiron goes past his man just inside the box and he is in behind the Brighton defence. However, instead of shooting or passing to a teammate to try and get the winner, he throws himself to the ground in similar fashion to his countryman. Clearly no contact from the defender.

This lame effort to try and get a penalty was stupid as well as embarrassing. Miguel Almiron would have been in a great position to score or create the winning goal AND in these days of VAR, it is pure stupidity, as the TV replays will show no contact and no penalty.

As I say, I have absolutely no argument against Almiron getting booked and to me a straightforward yellow card for both players, as it should be for all instances of diving, any player, any team!

However, quite clearly Garth Crooks only seeing the bare highlights of this Newcastle 1 Brighton 1 match.

Referee Darren England was absolutely woeful apart from giving those two yellow cards.

It was ridiculous the amount of time play was stopped and I lost count of the number of times Newcastle tried to quickly restart play, only for the referee to make them bring the ball back and start again.

Whilst even before they took the lead, Brighton were wasting time from the first whistle. The goalkicks in particular were beyond laughable, every time Dunk and his goalkeeper doing this lengthy Chuckle Brothers ‘to me, to you’ routine of who was going to take them. I don’t blame Brighton for the timewasting, as it is up to the referee to police it and he never even spoke to the pair of them to hurry it up (nor indeed any other Brighton player for the blatant timewasting), never mind booking them.

Plus the referee added no extra minutes for the timewasting, as summed up by only four minutes added to the first half. It had taken at least four minutes just for the treatment to Veltman on the pitch and his eventual substitution on 40 minutes. Whilst the only reason Sean Longstaff was able to score in the fifth minute of added time was due to the referee booking Gilmour for a cynical challenge and getting spoken to.

Stats via BBC Sport:

Newcastle 1 Brighton 1 – Saturday 11 May 3pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Longstaff 45+5

Brighton:

Veltman 18

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Brighton 45% (40%) Newcastle 55% (60%)

Total shots were Brighton 15 (10) Newcastle 18 (10)

Shots on target were Brighton 4 (3) Newcastle 7 (4)

Corners were Brighton 4 (3) Newcastle 8 (6)