Mario Lemina believes Nick Pope’s challenge on Raul Jimenez in Newcastle United vs Wolves was an obvious penalty.
Wanderers supporters are still sore after seeing their side on the end of another bad refereeing decision.
Wolves lost the game 2-1 at St. James’ Park, but the game could have been very different.
Midway through the first-half, Pope took a heavy touch and then brought Jimenez down in the area.
Referee Andy Madley was very far away from the incident, and did not blow for a foul.
VAR took a look and decided not to tell Madley to look at the incident again.
Many figures have said they thought Wolves should have been awarded a penalty.
Jamie Redknapp was incensed at the decision when analysing it at half-time on Sky Sports. Jamie Carragher was also of the belief a spot-kick should have been given.
Even Alan Shearer felt Newcastle got away with one.
Speaking after the game to the club’s official website, Lemina gave his take on the situation. Unsurprisingly, he also felt it was a stonewall penalty, but he did admit Wolves need to be better.
The £10 million signing said: “For me, it was an obvious penalty. I don’t want to talk about referees, and their choices.
“I don’t want to be this kind of player, if he says it’s not a penalty, we have to just do better and better to try and score a goal. It’s not about the penalty, we have to do better.”
Mario Lemina is right about Nick Pope challenge, it was a penalty but Wolves need to do better
Lemina’s view about the penalty incident will be shared by many.
But he is right when he says that Wolves need to be better.
For the most part in that game, Wanderers weren’t great. And Lemina himself perhaps had his worst outing in a Wolves shirt so far.
Given how good he has been since he joined, Wolves fans can’t complain about him too much.
A big response is needed though from him and everyone else against Leeds United this weekend.