Sky Sports' pundits Shay Given, Les Ferdinand and Francis Benali were in agreement that Newcastle should have been given a goal after Joelinton bundled the ball into the back of the net. However, referee Stuart Attwell adjudged the Brazilian midfielder to have handled the ball on the brink of half-time and awarded the Saints a free-kick.
VAR looked at the incident, with Callum Wilson's effort bouncing up onto the thigh of Joelinton, before he hammered home from close range. However, the video officials sided with the on-pitch decision, much to the dismay of former Newcastle goalkeeper, Given.
He told Sky Sports: "I’m not sure. I understand [the referee sees it from a certain angle], and the ref says he thinks it’s a handball, but then VAR - which we said before tonight we have VAR and we have it for a reason - and that angle proves it comes off his hip or his stomach. It’s a legitimate goal.
