Newcastle boss Steve McClaren has criticised referee Robert Madley for his performance in today’s 3-0 derby defeat.
McClaren felt his team were ‘in control’ until the inexperienced Madley granted Sunderland a controversial penalty – sending off Fabricio Coloccini in the process.
Many Toon fans have also blasted some of the refereeing decisions made throughout the game and they feel it changed the course of the game.
The Newcastle head coach had this to say after the game:
It was never a penalty. The penalty and red card was a double whammy. In the first half the team were excellent. I was totally relaxed. We were in control. I said to players that’s what we must continue.
We were the better side by a distance. We controlled it, created chances and never looked like giving away anything at the back.
It’s fair that McClaren feels aggrieved by some of the decisions made by Robert Madley. Who knows, if he had given Newcastle the penalty they deserved for a foul on Gini Wijnaldum, then the whole course of the game would have changed.
Still, though, it’s yet another disappointing derby day defeat for the Magpies and club captain Coloccini must also be condemned.
