beIN Sports presenter Richard Keys believes Anthony Gordon should be allowed to play in this month’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, despite his sending off in the FA Cup clash with Brighton over the weekend.
It has been a turbulent couple of months for Eddie Howe‘s side as they booked their place in the Wembley showpiece with a semi-final triumph over Arsenal last month. However, they have won just one of their last four games across all competitions and were knocked out of the FA Cup following Sunday’s extra-time defeat against Brighton at St James’ Park.
Despite initially taking the lead in that game, the Magpies conceded an equaliser just before half time and matters went from bad to worse seven minutes from the end of normal time as Gordon was given his marching orders, before the Seagulls scored a late winner in extra-time. The 24-year-old was penalised for a pushing out towards Jan Paul van Hecke’s face and he will now serve a three-match suspension for violent conduct, which includes the cup final against Liverpool.
Chronicle Live previously reported that Newcastle are expected to appeal the decision in an attempt to get the ban overturned. That’s a step Keys firmly agrees with as he believes they have a 50-50 chance of being successful.
“I know why Anthony Taylor sent Gordon off at Newcastle,” the presenter wrote in his latest blog post. “Gordon was daft and probably deserved to go, but it’s mad to think right now he’ll serve the same ban as [Liam] Roberts.
“I hope Newcastle appeal it. I’d say they’d have a 50-50 chance of winning. I’d like to see them win it. Gordon should be allowed to play in the Carabao Cup Final. I’ve argued for years when it comes to a final we want to see the best players on the pitch. It’s a showpiece so why not?
“If we restricted punishments to the competitions bookings or red cards were picked up in – that would happen more often. If you’re sent off in a league game your ban should apply to league fixtures.
“The same with the FA Cup. It’s simply wrong that Gordon will miss the [Carabao] Cup final because he got sent off in a FA Cup game.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-handed-fresh-anthony-31127521
