Fernandez missed penalty, Jackson red card, VAR mistake - Newcastle vs Chelsea referee review

Chelsea have lost their edge in the race for a top five finish, handing Newcastle United a massive advantage heading into the final two games of the season. After a 2-0 defeat at St James' Park, Enzo Maresca's side know they will likely need six points from the remaining fixtures with no room for error.

They entered Sunday's clash on Tyneside with the opportunity of taking a giant step towards Champions League football but will now have to perform under pressure against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. Sandro Tonali's early opener and Bruno Guimaraes' late clincher sealed the win for Newcastle.

Chelsea were left chasing shadows in a shocking first half performance that also saw them go down to 10 men. Nicolas Jackson was sent off after 35 minutes following a VAR review. John Brooks, the referee, had initially only given a yellow card for his collision with Sven Botman.

Maresca could hardly look at his striker when he left the field. Jackson will now miss the final two league games and the first one of next season.

The performance of Brooks has come under scrutiny from Chelsea supporters, though. Frustrated fans have pointed out that Brooks has now officiated four defeats for Chelsea this season, one in every game he has been in charge of.

As for Newcastle, they have now won all four under Brooks, including against Arsenal in the league, the Carabao Cup, and then the final with Liverpool. He was also the designated referee for Saudi Arabia's friendly at St James' Park against Costa Rica in November 2023 as well.

Chelsea fans online were also quick to recognise that Brooks had given Liverpool two penalties (one overturned) in the defeat at Anfield earlier this season. It was his award of a penalty at Ipswich Town for an alleged foul from Filip Jorgensen that also frustrated many.

That is the conspiracy theory side of this out of the way. Here, football.london looks at the big decisions made by Brooks during the game.

Gordon penalty appeal

Before Newcastle even score less than 120 seconds in there had been a penalty appeal. Anthony Gordon was sent racing into the box on the left side only to be sent tumbling by a tackle from Moises Caicedo. The Newcastle crowd went up loudly only for their cries to be ignored by Brooks.

Trevoh Chalobah picked up the pieces only for his pass to Romeo Lavia to end up setting up the first goal. Newcastle were not complaining about the penalty decision for long with celebrations following.

Gordon did stay down but got back to his feet as Newcastle moved into a crossing position a few seconds later. He then joined in with Tonali, racing towards the corner flag.

football.london verdict: Caicedo's tackle was a good one. He appeared to be on the wrong side of Gordon initially but managed to get his body between man and ball and was just too strong for Gordon. VAR wouldn't have had to intervene even if Newcastle didn't go on to score.

Jackson red card

This was already the fourth time Chelsea had sent a pretty aimless long ball up to Jackson, battling against Sven Botman, Dan Burn, and Fabian Schar. On the previous occasions he had received the ball on the halfway line coming in at his shins, chest, and head.

Several minutes earlier, Jackson had shown his frustration at not being in the game as he nudged Schar during an aerial duel, conceding a free-kick that Newcastle created a chance from. This time he had time to judge the flight of the ball and took two looks at Botman before getting his elbows up.

Brooks saw the collision and gave a yellow card. He was instructed by VAR official Darren England and assistant VAR Natalie Aspinall to have another look. It didn't take many views at the pitchside monitor for Brooks to turn and override his decision, showing Jackson a straight red card for serious foul play.

football.london verdict: Chelsea and Jackson can have no complaints at all. Although Botman is jumping for the ball and Jackson could be said to be getting his arms out, he looks twice and forcefully sends his elbow into the Newcastle man. Whether it's a deliberate intent to hurt him or not isn't relevant, it's silly, petulant, and costly.

Jackson never truly tries to win the ball and only plays the man. Maresca may well have said that the reaction from the crowd and Newcastle players impacted things but his response of ignoring Jackson when he walked off says it all. The head coach knew how stupid it was and that there was no argument.

The fact that Tyrone Mings wasn't sent off for an elbow to the head of Dean Huijsen on Saturday for Aston Villa or Guimaraes' on Jorginho from last season against Arsenal were not punished does not really matter. It is whataboutery to pick those out. The reality is that Jackson was foolish and deserved the outcome he got.

James on Gordon

Chelsea's nightmare start to the first half nearly repeated itself in the second. Reece James, on for Noni Madueke in a tactical change, was soon called into action to once again stop Gordon on the Newcastle left. In a similar scenario to the Caicedo incident, Gordon ends up on the floor and wanting a penalty.

The Newcastle fans go up in unison but Brooks says nothing doing. James is tracking back and the wrong side of the ball as he puts his body and arm into Gordon's side to push him away as the ball goes out for a goal kick.

football.london verdict: Another correct call here. James is much bigger and stronger than Gordon and sends him flying but that doesn't change this coming together.

It is a good piece of defending from the Chelsea captain as he eases Gordon out of the way. It's not his fault the winger finds himself on the grass without much fightback. James manages to position his body well after being in a problematic spot to start with and he deals with the situation well.

Brazil vs Argentina

The midfield battle was always going to be a key point for this match and even without Joelinton to reinforce the Newcastle team, there was plenty of quality on show. Given the combative nature of Enzo Fernandez and Guimaraes, it shouldn't be a surprise that they were two of the main culprits during a messy period for both sides.

Their South American rivalry could not be ignored either as the Newcastle captain geared up to defend a corner in the second half. After being warned by Brooks about holding at corners (with Levi Colwill also in a tussle elsewhere in the box), Guimaraes proceeded to wrap both arms around Fernandez in the six yard area.

football.london verdict: This is one of those where so many penalties could be given for contact at corners. However, when VAR checks at Stockley Park and suggests that there is no foul due to 'mutual holding' and this is the image of 'mutual', it is understandable why Chelsea are annoyed.

There is grappling and then there is this. Fernandez cannot possibly move and Guimaraes is clearly having no intention of going for the ball. When we look at what Arsenal got a penalty for against Real Madrid, this does grate. Jadon Sancho is also being pushed around by Alexander Isak here but that looks like less of an issue and is more standard set-piece practice.

Krafth free-kick

Chelsea could also be aggrieved by the way Newcastle's second goal came about. Emil Krafth ended up being booked but yet his team were awarded with a free-kick that directly led to the shot and deflected goal.

Coming from a Nick Pope goalkick (which was after the missed James header late on), Colwill leaps above Isak to put the ball into midfield. It lands with Tonali, who's touch header puts Caicedo and Isak together.

Caicedo goes into the back of Isak, who falls to the ground and wins a free-kick. Both sets of players then come together with Guimaraes on the ground after falling over Colwill. Krath and Jacob Murphy are there in some afters with pushing and shoving. James pleads and Palmer complains as Newcastle got a chance to punt the ball forward.

Tonali then picks out Burn, who is in acres of space. He lays off to Guimaraes and the goal happens. Chelsea will be left to wonder how a Newcastle player was given a yellow card but still managed to keep a free-kick.

football.london verdict: This is an annoying one because Krafth seems to instigate the collection of bodies into a low-key scuffle and yet his team keep the reward. As for the foul, it probably was.

Caicedo is clumsy enough to pile onto Isak like he does and at that stage of the game, any striker or player is going to go searching for something to take the pressure off. Chelsea can be disappointed but will really be asking why Burn and Guimaraes had so much time on the edge of the box in the first place.

football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel

Want to keep up to date with the breaking and important Chelsea stories whilst on the move? Well now you can!

Click this link to follow the football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel, where you'll be kept up to date on the latest Blues news wherever you are.

Just remember to turn on the notifications once you've followed, and you won't miss a beat!