Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou says it was the “angriest he has ever been in his career” after he was left fuming over Newcastle’s controversial equaliser in their 2-1 win at Spurs.
Anthony Gordon’s sixth-minute leveller for Newcastle came after the ball hit Joelinton’s hand in the build-up, but VAR allowed the goal to stand because “his arm was by his side, in a natural position and the contact was accidental”.
Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean agreed with the decision on Soccer Saturday as Joelinton’s alleged handball “did not lead directly to a goal” after the deflection fell to Bruno Guimaraes who then set up Gordon.
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Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean insists Newcastle’s equaliser at Tottenham was correctly allowed to stand
But a furious Postecoglou was “angry” and “disappointed” without directly commenting on the Joelinton handball call.
Asked in his post-match press conference to give his opinion on the decision to allow the Gordon equaliser, Postecoglou replied: “No, because I know what everyone wants me to say but all I’ll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. Simple as that.
“And don’t keep asking me about the decision. If you guys have no opinion about it, that’s fine. I know what my opinion is and, as I said, if that was a different day and it was an even and fair playing ground, we would have won that game.”
He added: “Considering everything we had to go through and the situation we’re in right now, to put on a performance like that, I take my hat off to the players. I thought they were outstanding.
“I’m just really, really angry, as angry as I’ve ever been in my career, that they were denied the right rewards for a fantastic performance.”
Asked to clarify whether he was angry at the officiating, he replied: “I know you just want me to say something, but I’m not going to. I think it’s clear. Whether people agree with me or not, you think it wasn’t handball or it was accidental or whatever, I’m just not interested in any of that discussion.
“What I’m saying is that on any given day, with a fair and even playing field and logical thought processes, we would have won that game. That’s it. You can make what you want of that. I don’t know what else to say about it.”
The Australian believed his injury-hit side, which was also struck by a sickness bug in the build-up to the game, deserved victory as Alexander Isak’s 38th-minute winner for Newcastle made it three defeats in their last four games for Spurs.
Alexander Isak scored Newcastle’s winner in the first half
“Hugely proud,” Postecoglou said of the performance. “I’m shattered that the boys didn’t get the rewards they deserved because we were outstanding. Our football was outstanding against a very good opponent in good form.
“It’s a game we deserved to win and on any other day we would have won.”
He added: “Thursday we literally had 11 fit players for training, but I don’t care about that. What I care about is that the players put in an unbelievable performance.
“It’s unfair on them, more than anything else, that they don’t get the rewards they deserve today.”
He also added: “The only thing that stopped us in our tracks was not football.”
Howe: Gordon’s goal right to be given
Anthony Gordon scored a controversial equaliser after Joelinton’s alleged handball in the build-up
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted the ball hit Joelinton’s arm but Gordon’s goal was right to be allowed.
He said of the incident at his post-match press conference: “I can’t sit here and lie and say I haven’t seen it, because I have.
“It definitely hit Joelinton’s arm – I can give you that as well – but I’m not in control of the referee’s decision.
“I believe that his arm’s down in a natural position. And I think the referee and the VAR have followed the rules and protocols that are in place, so that’s why it’s given.”
Howe also disagreed with Postecoglou’s view that Spurs deserved to win the game.
He said: “I thought we were dominant in the first half today. I thought it could, and possibly should, have been more in that first-half period.
“Yes, Tottenham played well in the second half and they brought on some quality players and pushed us back at times.
“But we did enough to get over the line.”
