Craig Dawson has revealed what referee Andy Madley told him as he waved away a penalty claim for Wolves in yesterday’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.
Wanderers lost to the Magpies at St. James’ Park, with Miguel Almiron scoring the winner late on.
Alexander Isak had opened the scoring for the hosts.
But Hwang Hee-chan, back in action after a hamstring injury, equalised in the second-half for Wolves.
Almiron popped up to score for Newcastle after Julen Lopetegui had switched the system to a back three with wing-backs.
Arguably, the change that worked so well against Tottenham Hotspur cost Wolves against Newcastle.
But the game could have been entirely different had a major decision gone their way.
In the first-half, Nick Pope fouled Raul Jimenez in the penalty area after taking a heavy touch.
He challenged Jimenez and got none of the ball, taking the Mexican down with a body check. Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp and Jamie Carragher both thought Pope got away with it, as did Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.
Wolves centre-back Dawson was speaking after the game, and shared what referee Madley actually told him on the pitch.
The 32-year-old said (Wolves official): “There was obviously a coming together [between Pope and Jimenez] and I asked the referee and he kind of said it was a coming together and I’ve not really seen it again.”
Another shocking decision stings Wolves in defeat to Newcastle, as Andy Madley says Jimenez penalty claim was ‘coming together’
Wolves didn’t play well enough for long enough to warrant any points yesterday.
But, undoubtedly, a big moment in the game went against Lopetegui’s side yesterday.
The referee saying ‘it was a coming together’ will not wash with many Wolves fans.
Given he was so far away from the action, he surely could not say that with 100% confidence.
The most ridiculous thing of all is that VAR did not instruct Madley to go and look at the incident at the pitchside monitor.
It was a highly contentious decision and it needed a second viewing. Especially given his position on the field when it happened.