"I think you have all seen the (penalty) incident and you have a lot of experts on TV and in radio and newspapers to analyse what has gone on. I was talking to the referee but I don’t want to talk about it. For me it was an important win and we had to win.

"It could be a free-kick or a long ball from a counter attack which could be dangerous for us. So we needed to be sure that after scoring the goal we didn’t make any mistakes and were in the right positions. 

"We have to make the right decisions just in case but until the final whistle you couldn't relax.”

This ludicrous turn of events inflamed the crowd but some frantic attacking before the break failed to open up a Burton side, who aside from a 17th minute volley from Jackson Irvine narrowly over the bar had been content to marshal ten men behind the ball. 

The second half followed a similar pattern, the home side enjoying great swathes of possession without really testing Brewers 'keeper Jon McLaughlin.

Recalled to the starting lineup, Ayoze Perez should have hit the target when bursting into the box on 59 minutes, but instead shot harmlessly wide.

The Spaniard was one of three changes to the lineup that started against Burton, coming into the side along with Christian Atsu and Chancel Mbemba - the latter for the first time since November. 

Thankfully though, Ritchie's unstoppable effort soon after was enough to win the game - Nigel Clough's side unable to repeat the added-time goal that brought them an unexpected success at Huddersfield on Saturday. Had they scored though, the ramifications don't bear thinking about - media reports quickly surfaced of a partially restaged England women's U19 game in 2015.

The fact remains though that the penalty incident occurred well before half time and although the immediate aftermath was one of confusion, we went in scoreless at half time and regrouped. Failing to beat Burton would have been a partial consequence of the referee's botched decision, but blame would also have been placed at our door for failing to step up to the plate in the second 45.   

Three points sent the Magpies back to the top of the table after Brighton had occupied that spot for 24 hours and also guaranteed a top six finish for United. More importantly the ten point gap to third was maintained, Huddersfield beating Norwich tonight to climb ahead of Reading once again.

Having looked at one point as if he'd get through a game with an unchanged XI for the first time as Newcastle boss, Rafa made two late replacements and continued to warm up a third substitute (Grant Hanley) even after that point.

For once though the changes seemed to be ill-timed, Christian Atsu especially contributing little for  some time before belatedly making way for Sammy Ameobi. This could prove to be the game when the on-loan Chelsea winger finally saw his hopes of a permanent transfer here end - failing to make any impression against Burton doesn't augur well for future tests against more illustrious opponents.

Preferred to both Jack Colback and Isaac Hayden, there was a deeper midfield role for Mo Diame meanwhile and he did reasonably well there - although given the safety-first mentality of Albion, he'd need to impress against a more offensive side before playing him their looked like a genuine option going forward. 

From a game management perspective, it's concerning that we had opportunities to take the ball into the corners and run the clock down, but appeared to be uncertain of whether to do that or head for goal - surrendering possession as a result. 

This game will be ultimately be remembered for the goal that wasn't - and the fallout from what happened next. Meanwhile, we draw inexorably nearer to the target. Six to go.


Biffa