The referee had a nightmare at St James’ Park – John Anderson | OneFootball

John Anderson has been reflecting on Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0, especially the performance of referee Michael Salisbury.

A game where the referee managed to annoy both sets of fans.

The only positive though, is that at least with Newcastle United winning, it is far more difficult for anybody to claim it is just sour grapes from United fans. Reacting simply to your team losing, rather than genuine grievances with Michael Salisbury.

John Anderson pointing out just some of the ways in which the referee was shocking.

As he says, it was an ‘absolute joke’ that the Bruno goal was disallowed, he just stood still and the Ipswich keeper travelled a fair distance before charging into the Newcastle midfielder.

The Ipswich fans wanted to claim it was a soft penalty but their player clearly pulled Murphy back. The useless referee not giving that, needing VAR to rescue him.

As for the red card, the second booking was 100% a yellow card. Johnson definitely dived when there was no contact from Dan Burn and sometimes those are given and sometimes not, in terms of a yellow for a player who clearly dives.

I thought from the very start Michael Salisbury was shocking. The timewasting from Ipswich was laughable, especially the time before Palmer in the Ipswich goal released the ball, it felt like half of the opening 45 minutes the ball was in his possession. Yet the referee did nothing to ‘encourage’ him into getting on with the game.

John Anderson talking to BBC Radio Newcastle, analysing Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0 and especially the performance of referee Michael Salisbury:

“The goal that was disallowed is an absolute joke.

“Guimaraes doesn’t do anything, he just stands there.

“Keeper is expecting him to do something.

“All he [Guimaraes] did was hold his ground.

“The referee had a nightmare.

“He had a nightmare for both sides.

“He was absolutely abysmal.

“He just lost the plot early on and never really got it back.”

Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0 – Saturday 26 April 2025 3pm

Newcastle United:

Isak 45+4, Burn 56, Osula 80

Ipswich

Johnson red card 37

Possession was Newcastle 78% Ipswich 22%

Total shots were Newcastle 25 Ipswich 4

Shots on target were Newcastle 5 Ipswich 0

Corners were Newcastle 11 Ipswich 2

Touches in the box Newcastle 66 Ipswich 6

Newcastle team v Ipswich:

Pope, Trippier, Schar (Botman 83), Burn, Livramento, Willock (Miley 67), Tonali, Bruno, Barnes (Wilson 77), Isak (Osula 77), Murphy (Gordon 67)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Ruddy, Krafth, Longstaff

(Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)