There is absolutely no doubting that only one man was the star of the show yesterday at St James Park. It wasn’t Matt Doherty for his last-minute winner, it wasn’t Ayoze Perez for his goal and it wasn’t Diogo Jota for his goal or his part in DeAndre Yedlin’s dismissal. No, instead it was referee Mike Dean, who’s catalogue of blunders left thousands of Magpies absolutely livid.
Perez to Sky: 'I don't know what we have to do to get a penalty. The guy elbowed me really hard straight in my nose but the referee said it was the ball that hit me not the elbow even though I was bleeding."
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) December 9, 2018
Dean has a funny way of making things all about himself. The Premier League official has been doing so for many, many seasons now and whenever there’s a controversial moment from the man in the middle of a top-flight game, it’s usually Dean. It was just over a week ago that the 50-year-old gave two penalties, seven yellows and a red in the North London derby, and yesterday saw equally frustrating refereeing.
The match between Newcastle and Wolves had everything about it to be a cracker. Both sides had won well in midweek and were chasing back-to-back wins, yet with the score at 1-1 and a great prospect brewing, Dean turned down the most stone-wall of Newcastle penalties when Willy Boly drove an elbow in Ayoze Perez’s nose well before the ball dropped whilst defending a cross. The Spaniard’s nose was bloodied from the incident and the fans all knew it should have been a spot-kick, but Dean saw nothing in it, leaving the fans calling for VAR.
You can read the Geordies’ verdict on Mike Dean’s ineptitude here:
Penalty claims aside, it was a head injury yet he didn't stop the game, the man really isn't fit to referee.
— Michael T Riddler (@MTRiddler) December 9, 2018
It’s the #MikeDeanShow he has a script all written out before the game starts
— Robert (@RobertRobneal28) December 9, 2018
We never get the rub of the green from referees! Brighton get penalties every week but Newcastle just don't! Ivecsaid it before and I'll say it again @PL definite bias against NUFC!!!
— Toonfan (@ataylor1892) December 9, 2018
Head injury. Game wasn’t stopped. Wolves then went on and nearly scored. Referee was a joke today. Bring in VAR
— BJC (@JoeCollins99) December 9, 2018
He must know by now we don’t get penalties, even at home ! #nufc
— Neil J R (@NeilJonNUFC) December 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/Nikijosie/status/1071878412103503875
#MikeDean an embarrassment to the profession#NEWWOL
— Steve Ellis Talks (@SteveEllis90) December 9, 2018
The Magpies were rightly livid at Dean for failing to give them a stonewall penalty and show Boly a red card, and on another day with another referee things would have gone very differently.
