Premier League issue statement after Nick Pope drama in Newcastle vs Crystal Palace

The have explained that there WAS enough contact from to see awarded a controversial penalty on Wednesday. The Eagles were given a penalty just after the half-hour mark at St James' Park after the goalkeeper had smashed into Chris Richards.

The original decision was no penalty but a VAR check saw that call overturned and the have explained exactly why. A statement released during the game read: "VAR checked the referee’s call of no penalty to Crystal Palace for a challenge by Pope on Richards – and deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and awarded a penalty to Crystal Palace."

It eventually mattered not as Pope redeemed himself by saving Eberechi Eze's spot kick. And things then got even worse for the visitors as a Marc Guehi own goal saw Newcastle double their advantage.

The Magpies were 4-0 at the break as Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes got in on the act. Alexander Isak added a fifth in the second period as Newcastle made it six straight wins.

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Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton had slammed Pope for his part in the incident that saw Palace handed a penalty. Speaking on , he said: "It's so careless from Nick Pope. Needless."

But he then praised the England stopper for redeeming himself with the save. He added: "Nick Pope just waits. He does well, really well. Eze wants to see him sit down, he doesn't. It's so careless and clumsy to give away the penalty but he redeems himself."

A win against Palace sees Newcastle strengthen their grip on a place in the . Three points carries them up to third in the Premier League table, just four points behind , and all without mastermind Eddie Howe, still recuperating from a nasty bout of pneumonia.

Was Palace's penalty the right decision?

Newcastle face another big game in their pursuit of a Champions League spot at the weekend as they take on . Unai Emery's men saw their run in the competition ended by Paris Saint-Germain in a dramatic affair on Tuesday evening.

The Premier League have already ensured that they will have five teams in the competition next term. As it stands, those sides will be , Arsenal, Newcastle, and .

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