I have to agree with Graeme Souness on this Newcastle United viewpoint – No, honestly | OneFootball

I suppose it has to happen sometime, agreeing with Graeme Souness when he is talking about Newcastle United.

Only one match into this Premier League season and I find myself in total agreement with the former Southampton and Newcastle United manager.

Graeme Souness speaking after Newcastle beat the Saints 1-0.

However, Souness wanting to focus on the incident that made the headlines.

Graeme Souness believes that it should have been the other way around, Ben Brereton getting the red card and Fabian Schar just a yellow!

Graeme Souness speaking to Talksport about the cheating by Ben Brereton Diaz that got Fabian Schar sent off:

“If you walked down the street now and did a survey of 10 football fans and asked what annoys them, they would say cheating.

“Ben Brereton Diaz cheated.

“Schar was wrong, but I personally think the referee should have gone to the screen and sent Diaz off and book Schar.

“You are cheating.

“Schar put his head towards him and there’s no action of headbutting.

“There’s no action of ‘I’m going to hurt you’.

“Diaz has thrown himself to the ground and that’s a red card.

“He’s tried to deceive me, tried to cheat the people in the stadium, and the wider audience watching at home.

“Here’s your red card. See you son.

“You have to stamp it out because that’s the thing that frustrates the supporters more than anything else.

“You can say that it was an invitation that was too good to refuse, but that’s not us.

“If we allow this to continue in the game, which the referees are doing, then our league is doomed.

“We’re the number one league in the world, the most watched, we’re where the money is and we have to retain it going forward because simulation can damage us.”

Stats via BBC Sport:

Newcastle 1 Southampton 0 – Saturday 17 August 3pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Schar red card 28, Joelinton 45

Southampton:

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Newcastle 22% (27%) Southampton 78% (73%)

Total shots were Newcastle 3 (3) Southampton 19 (4)

Shots on target were Newcastle 1 (1) Southampton 5 (1)

Corners were Newcastle 3 (3) Southampton 12 (1)

Touches in the box Newcastle 16 (11) Southampton 48 (8)

Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall (Kelly 70), Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton; J Murphy (Krafth 30), Isak, Gordon (Barnes 70)

Subs:

Dubravka, Trippier, Targett, Osula, Almiron, Willock

Attendance: 52,196

(Newcastle 1 Southampton 0 – An absolutely magnificent effort and win by 10 man Newcastle United – Read it HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Southampton 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan / writer reaction – Read it HERE)

Newcastle United schedule to end of October 2024:

Sunday 25 August 2024 – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 28 August 2024 – Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (8pm) Carabao Cup round two

Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.

Sunday 1 September 2024 – Newcastle v Tottenham (1.30pm) Sky Sports

(The first international break of the season)

Sunday 15 September 2024 – Wolves v Newcastle (4.30 pm) Sky Sports

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)

Saturday 21 September 2024 – Fulham v Newcastle (3 pm)

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)

Saturday 28 September 2024 – Newcastle v Man City (12.30 pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 5 October – Everton v Newcastle (5pm) Sky Sports