Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou says it was “the angriest he's ever been in his career” after being furious with Newcastle's controversial equalizer in their 2-1 win over Spurs.
Anthony Gordon's sixth-minute equalizer for Newcastle came after the ball struck Joelinton's hand in the build-up, but VAR allowed the goal to stand because “his arm was next to him, in a natural position and the contact was accidental “.
Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean agreed with the decision on Saturday, saying Joelinton's alleged handball “did not directly lead to a goal” after the deflection fell to Bruno Guimaraes, who then set up Gordon.
But a furious Postecoglou was “angry” and “disappointed” without directly commenting on Joelinton's handball call.
Asked at his post-match press conference to give his opinion on the decision to allow the Gordon equalizer, Postecoglou replied: “No, because I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I will say is that at Another day, if the playing field was fair and level, we would have won that game so easily.
“And don't keep asking me about the decision. If you don't have an opinion on it, that's fine. I know what my opinion is and, like I said, if that was a different day and it was an even and fair game ground , we would have won that match.”
He added: “Given everything we've had to go through and the situation we're in now, to achieve such a performance, I take my hat off to the players. I thought they were excellent.
“I'm just very angry, as angry as I've ever been in my career, that they were denied the proper reward for a fantastic performance.”
When asked to clarify whether he was angry with the officer on duty, he responded, “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 was. It's not handball or it was accidental or whatever, I'm just not interested in that discussion.
“What I'm saying is that on any given day, with a fair and level playing field and logical thought processes, we would have won that game. That's it. Make of that whatever you want. I don't know what.” else to say about it.”
The Australian believed his injury-hit side, who were also hit by a sickness bug in the build-up to the match, deserved victory as Alexander Isak's 38th-minute winner made it three defeats for Newcastle in their last four games for Spurs.
“Extremely proud,” Postecoglou said of the performance. “I'm devastated that the boys didn't get the reward they deserved because we were excellent. Our football was excellent 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: “On Thursday we literally had 11 fit players for training but I don't care. What I care about is that the players put in an incredible performance.
“It is unfair to them more than anything that they are not getting the reward they deserve today.”
He also added: “The only thing that stopped us wasn't football.”
Howe: Gordon's goal right to get
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted the ball hit Joelinton's arm but Gordon's goal was justified.
He said of the incident at his post-match press conference: “I can't sit here and lie and say I didn't see it, because I did.
“It certainly hit Joelinton's arm – I can tell you that too – but I have no control over the referee's decision.
“I believe his arm was dropped in a natural position. And I think the referee and VAR followed the rules and protocols that are there, so that's why it's given.”
Howe also disagreed with Postecoglou's view that Spurs deserved to win the match.
He said: “I thought we were dominant in the first half today. I thought it could and should have been more in that first half.
“Yes, Tottenham played well in the second half and they brought some quality players and sometimes pushed us back.
“But we have done enough to get over the line.”
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