Dermot Gallagher has backed Anthony Taylor’s decision to dismiss Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope. A gut-wrenching sending-off for handball outside of his box means the 30-year-old will miss the Carabao Cup final this weekend.
The decision was cruel for Pope, who has been instrumental in the Magpies’ success this season. Martin Dubravka finished the remainder of the game but his participation in the early rounds - ironically for Manchester United - rules him out on Sunday.
Eddie Howe will call upon Loris Karius or Mark Gillespie against the Red Devils, with neither keeper playing a competitive fixture for two years. Some Newcastle supporters flirted with the idea of a possible appeal to rescind Pope’s one-game ban. However, doing so appears unlikely.
