Newcastle ‘apologise’ and ‘fuming’ AFC Wimbledon lash out at official as St James’ allegation is made

You might have heard. It’s been about a year since Newcastle United defeated Kylian Mbappe and PSG in the Champions League. If that was a night to remember at St James’ Park, this 1-0 victory over League Two side AFC Wimbledon was anything but. In the Carabao Cup, Newcastle’s much-changed squad got the job done. The quick victory lap following the game indicated as much.

Newcastle had 78% control and earned a stunning ten corners, yet they only managed four shots on goal. The fragmented hosts were ultimately grateful to Fabian Schar for stepping up from the spot to secure a last-16 encounter with Chelsea.

Howe intended to ‘put on more of a show’, but the Newcastle manager was left ‘frustrated’ by his team’s sluggish attacking play, particularly in the first half. Howe even felt compelled to ‘apologise’ when it ‘did not turn out to be that kind of game’ for the 51,739 fans in attendance.

“You go from Manchester City to this game,” he told reporters. “Psychologically they’re totally different and it’s difficult for the players coming in, but individually you have to put that aside and show your best qualities in order to give yourselves the best opportunity of playing again as quickly as possible. Knowing the standard of the players, some of them didn’t do that today, especially the attacking players, and I think they will be disappointed.”

Nothing summed up Wimbledon’s blunt attacking threat quite like custodian Owen Goodman’s need to make only one save in the first 44 minutes. Even so, Sean Longstaff’s effort from the perimeter of the area was easily claimed.

It was up to Schar, the stand-in captain, to constantly step up as Newcastle’s creator. With less than half an hour on the clock, Schar’s raking diagonal found Harvey Barnes on the left flank, and the striker cut inside in characteristic flair before unleashing a curling effort that flew wide.

Schar’s vision and passing range were desperately needed against a disciplined team who put men behind the ball, and just a few minutes later, the defender played Almiron through with a wonderful ball over the top. Almiron brought the ball down expertly but fired wide when the Paraguay international should have hit the target from close range.

Almiron quickly made amends, however, and got his team a penalty before halftime. It all began with a Newcastle corner kick, when Longstaff fizzed the ball over to Schar, who anticipated Joe Pigott’s approach and collapsed inside the area. Despite the fact that nothing was offered, the ball dropped to Almiron, who was brought down by Pigott’s leg.

Referee Darren Bond gave a penalty when the linesman flashed his flag too late. Schar went up to stroke the ball past Goodman, much to the relief of the players, staff, and fans. Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson, on the other hand, could not believe it after believing his team had ‘lost by a questionable penalty’.

“I’m fuming to be honest,” he said. “The first one is a dive so it should be a free-kick, yellow card, then there’s a break in play. There’s another coming together and about four or five passes after that.

“The referee is in a good position. He doesn’t give it. Then the linesman decides to get involved and give a penalty. Like we’re not up against it enough as a League Two team coming to Newcastle as the underdog. We don’t need the linesman to get involved at that stage. The referee is there to referee the game. He didn’t give it. He didn’t see fit.

“I’m angry about that one to be honest because I don’t see that happening down the other end and the linesman getting involved to give us a penalty somehow. I don’t see that at St James’ Park.”

Despite Jackson’s fury, his team remained composed, and the visitors held firm after the interval, even after Newcastle introduced Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon as planned. Wimbledon were so tenacious that Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, and Bruno all had efforts blocked within the box in a matter of seconds midway through the second half; Riley Harbottle was even knocked out after receiving a shot to the head.

Newcastle had a chance to seal the game in the 67th minute when Gordon skipped down the left, cut inside, and clipped a cross to the back post. It was the type of tempting throw that begged for someone to get on the end of it, but a sliding Almiron could only hit the side netting after choosing to use his preferred left foot rather than looping it back across with his right.

Osula had time to spin away from Harbottle inside the area a few minutes later, but the 21-year-old also struck the side netting. It was that type of night.