Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.
The former top referee has now given his call on these incidents in the Sunderland v Newcastle match.
Dermot Gallagher looking at what happened during key moments in this match on Wearside.
Newcastle United and Sunderland in a game not without incident…
This Premier League match ending Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0 and United now having to refocus on Wednesday night and the chance to get to a third cup semi-final in four seasons.
Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about these Sunderland v Newcastle controversial incidents:
INCIDENT:
Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey avoids a second yellow card after stamping on the top of Lewis Miley’s foot.
DERMOT GALLAGHER:
“Is it a second yellow? Possibly.
“VAR can’t get involved.
“But from the referee’s view, it doesn’t look as though he touches him.
“It actually looks as if his boot comes down alongside him, so you can understand why he didn’t even give a free-kick.”
INCIDENT:
Nordi Mukiele only gets a yellow card for a cowardly challenge on Dan Burn, the Newcastle defender sliding to clear the ball and the Sunderland player never going to make contact with the ball, instead his knee(s) connecting with Burn’s chest/ribs.
DERMOT GALLAGHER:
“I think the difference is that one player got the ball and the other didn’t.
“Half a second the other way it could have been Burn who caught Mukiele.
“Both players have challenged for the ball.
“It is inevitable they are going to collide.”
INCIDENT:
A late melee in the derby breaks out, with players from both sides involved. The referee booking four players, one Sunderland and three Newcastle United.
DERMOT GALLAGHER:
“I actually think this summed up how he (Peter Bankes) refereed.
“If you look at him, he is calm, he is watching.
“This all started because of a challenge on the goalkeeper.
“He didn’t lose focus of that and when this all calmed down, he still went back and booked the right players.
“He didn’t get sucked into doing anything stupid.
“I thought this was a great game to watch because he allowed them to play and the players didn’t take advantage.”
Hmmm, I think the referee bottled it when not giving the second yellow to Brobbey. I reckon that he knew that if he acknowledged that he had seen the foul on Miley and gave the free-kick, then he would have had no option but to give the second yellow and then a red.
I still think Mukiele did that on purpose with Burn, he knew before he slid that he couldn’t get the ball but did it anyway, reckless as to how that could injure Dan Burn. However, I accept that a yellow card was probably all the referee could give, as he had to give the Sunderland player the benefit of doubt on intent.
As for the fracas at the end. I don’t think it was a foul by Willock on the keeper, never mind a yellow card. Plus, I don’t think Peter Bankes made the decisions on who to book in that incident, I think he had a voice in his ear telling him who to penalise, rightly or wrongly.
Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0 – Sunday 14 December 2025 2pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Sunderland:
Woltemade OG 46
Possession was Newcastle 54% Sunderland 46%
Total shots were Newcastle 6 Sunderland 5
Shots on target were Newcastle 2 Sunderland 1
Corners were Newcastle 6 Sunderland 3
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 14 Sunderland 14
Newcastle team v Sunderland:
Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Burn (Schar 42), Hall, Tonali (Willock 59), Miley, Bruno, Gordon (Barnes 59), Woltemade (Wissa 75), Elanga (Jacob Murphy 59)
Unused subs:
Ruddy, Joelinton, Alex Murphy, Ramsey