Alan Shearer believes Eddie Howe took the 'shocking' VAR decision to rule out Newcastle United' goal against Crystal Palace 'too well'. Joe Willock was penalised for a collision with Vincente Guaita despite appearing to be pushed in the back by Tyrick Mitchell.
The Eagles' full-back inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net, and referee Michael Salisbury initially allowed the goal to stand. However, the referee chalked the goal off after being encouraged to review the decision by VAR Lee Mason.
It is the latest in a series of controversial calls to already go against Newcastle this season, and came hot on the heels of the added-time frustration in the last-gasp defeat at Anfield. It was also one of several questionable calls in the latest gameweek, with Aston Villa and West Ham both on the wrong end of decisions against 'Big Six' opponents
READ MORE: Alan Shearer slams 'pathetic decision' to disallow Newcastle United goal against Crystal Palace
Shearer could not hide his disgust at the decision at St James' Park, and insists there was only one man 'to blame' for denying the Magpies a potential winning goal. He told Match of the Day: "If you thought that West Ham decision was bad, have a look at this one. Again, it's shocking, it's abysmal, it's disgraceful, whatever word you want to use.
"Willock is actually going to head that so ball Mitchell shoves him, so he knows that. The referee Michael Salisbury, this is his seventh game so he's inexperienced, he actually gets it right.
"He gives the goal, it's Lee Mason on VAR who somehow bizarrely tells him no, you've made a howler. That's meant to be a howler from the referee, so Lee Mason tells him to go to the screen and only show him these angles.
"Bizarrely enough, they don't show him this angle. I mean, all angles it's a foul but that one it's clear, and he doesn't see that one. Lee Mason is the one to blame in this situation because it's an inexperienced referee, so he thinks oh my goodness, I've made a howler here and I've got to go change my mind or go against an experienced referee.
"At this level, you're in the big boys league, you've got to get that decision right. He's had no help from the VAR whatsoever. Mike Riley [head of the PGMOL] wasn't up to the job, they've got rid of him although he's still in it till Howard Webb comes in at Christmas time.
"He's got a big job on his hands, far, far too many errors. VAR is not the problem, it's the people as I keep saying that are running it that are the problem."
Howe admitted he was 'very surprised' by the decision in his post-match interviews. The Newcastle head coach believed Guaita staying down for treatment influence the call to disallow the goal.
It was a measured response from Howe in comparison to David Moyes' anger at the decision to deny West Ham an equaliser against Chelsea on the same afternoon. Maxwel Cornet found the net to level the contest at 2-2, but VAR chalked the strike off for an foul on Edouard Mendy by Jarrod Bowen.
Moyes could not hide his rage following the defeat, branding it a 'scandalous' call and saying he has now 'lost faith' in refereeing in the Premier League. When asked by presenter Gary Lineker over Howe's own response, Shearer replied: "Too well. You see the reaction of David Moyes, he was angry. But that's the way Eddie is.
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