'I suspected' - Former Chelsea forward insists referee made right call in Ola Aina penalty incident

Former Chelsea forward Pat Nevin has backed the referee's decision to award a penalty to Newcastle United during the first half of their Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest.

In a game of two halves, the Magpies came from behind to secure a 4-3 win over the Reds at St. James' Park.

Nottingham Forest forward Callum Hudson-Odoi broke the deadlock in the sixth minute after Jacob Murphy lost the ball in his own half, but Lewis Miley restored parity at minute 23.

Murphy redeemed himself fully with Newcastle's second goal and Alexander Isak, with some fortune, made it 3-1 when his penalty kick went in with goalkeeper Matz Sels tipping the ball into the net.

Newcastle United had a handsome half-time lead after the shock of conceding an early goal as Isak tripled the advantage in the 34th minute.

Nottingham Forest didn't show up in the first half but definitely turned up in the second when they scored two goals through Nikola Milenković and Ryan Yates.

The Premier League explained that the video assistant referee recommended an on-field review in the 29th minute for a possible handball by Aina, deeming his arm in an unnatural position, and upon review, the referee awarded a penalty to Newcastle United.

Reacting to the penalty incident, Nevin noted that it was hard for referee Jarred Gillett to turn down the appeals for a penalty. 

He said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "As I suspected. That would be really hard for the referee to turn down.

It is a little distance away from Aina. There's nothing he can do about it would have been hard not to give that."

Aina is a key player for manager Nuno Espírito Santo, having logged 2,265 minutes in this season's Premier League—more than any other Nottingham Forest outfield player.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com