Loads of Newcastle United supporters to took social media during their side’s 5-0 defeat at Leicester City to slam Magpies midfielder Isaac Hayden, after the 24-year-old was sent off for a ‘shocking’ challenge on Dennis Praet.
Hayden began the affair at the King Power Stadium as the second holding midfielder alongside Sean Longstaff, as boss Steve Bruce tweaked his tactics to see Newcastle start in a 4-2-3-1 for the first time in the Premier League this season.
Bruce’s call failed to prevent Leicester from taking the lead in the 16th minute through right-back Ricardo Pereira, despite starting promisingly with Hayden lashing a low shot into Yoshinori Muto’s path moments before the Foxes opened the scoring.
Hayden’s next key moment of the game was his sending off shortly before the break, which was the Gunners product’s second straight red since the start of the 2018/19 term – the only Premier League player to see two straight red cards (Opta).
Former Premier League left-back Stephen Warnock described the 24-year-old’s tackle on Praet as ‘strong’ and ‘aggressive’ for BBC Sport’s live text commentary of the game, noting: “It’s strong, it’s aggressive, but it’s very high – it’s almost at Praet’s knee.
“I thought it was a red card straight away – on seeing it again Hayden can have no complaints. Hayden is walking off saying ‘I don’t know what you’ve seen’. It’s endangering the player – it’s really high.”
Hayden left the field having completed 17 of his 18 attempted passes for a 94% accuracy rating – only late substitute DeAndre Yedlin completed a higher rate for Newcastle, per WhoScored data.
Chelmsford-born Hayden also won possession once through a successful tackle, twice through interceptions, and completed his sole attempted dribble of the Premier League affair – only Joelinton and Jamaal Lascelles completed more (2).
Hayden’s sending off was the key moment fans took note off from his game, though, with many agreeing with Warnock that his foul was worthy of a straight red card…
Shocking challenge
— K (@KCol1875) September 29, 2019
Shocking challenge. How can he complain about that
— Dan Park (@danpark908) September 29, 2019
That is an appalling tackle.
— Tom Carlisle (@TomJCarlisle) September 29, 2019
Absolutely disgusting challenge, and his reaction was even worse.
— Anth (@NUFCanth1892) September 29, 2019
Shocker – could have been a leg breaker! Awful tackle that!
— Adam Clifford (@AdamClifford8) September 29, 2019
Yer definitely getting relegated, embarrassing
— N3V3RM1ND* (@Meance2society1) September 29, 2019
That red is deserved. Headless challenge. Off you go, don’t even complain lad. All you. #nufc
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) September 29, 2019
Cowards challenge 100% a red card
— Dan Willan (@DanWillan1984) September 29, 2019
that’s Bruce’s presser excuses sorted
— Dell (3-1) (@agbnufc) September 29, 2019
Well that’s Bruce excuse after the game.
— Rabc (@sean597_sean) September 29, 2019
Imagine thinking that isn’t a red card, bloody hell. Absolutely ludicrous decision to go in like that.
— kye (@kyeeee_) September 29, 2019
