Ange Postecoglou: Spurs boss ‘angriest he has been in career’ over Joelinton handball call in loss to Newcastle | Football News happymamay

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said he was the “angrier of his career” after he was left fuming at Newcastle’s controversial equalizer in their 2-1 win over Tottenham.

Anthony Gordon’s goal for Newcastle came in the sixth minute after the ball struck Joelinton’s hand during the build-up, but the VAR allowed the goal to stand because “his arm was at his side, in a natural position and the contact was accidental”.

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean agreed with the decision Football Saturday Joelinton’s alleged handball “did not lead directly to the goal” after his deflection fell to Bruno Guimarães, who then passed Gordon.

But an angry Postecoglou was “angry” and “frustrated” without commenting directly on Joelinton’s handball call.

When asked in his post-match press conference what he thought about the decision to allow Gordon’s equaliser, Postecoglou replied: “No, because I know what everyone wants me to say but all I will say is that on any other day, if our ground had been fair and equal, it would have been… We could have won that match so easily.

“And don’t keep asking me what the decision is. If you guys don’t have an opinion, that’s okay. I know what my opinion is, and like I said, if it were a different day and it was an equal and fair game.” On the ground, we would have won this match.”

He added: “Given everything we’ve been through and the situation we’re in now to perform like this, I take my hat off to the players. I think they were fantastic.”

“I’m really angry, as angry as I’ve ever been in my career, that they were denied proper rewards for a great performance.”

When asked to clarify whether he was angry with the refereeing, he replied: “I know you just want me to say something, but I’m not going to do that. I think it’s clear. Whether people agree with me or not, you think it wasn’t.” Whether it was a handball or whether it was an accident or whatever, I’m not interested in any of this discussion.

“What I’m saying is that on any given day, with a fair and level playing field and logical thought processes, we would have won that game. That’s it. You can do what you want with that. I don’t know what else to say about that.”

The Australian believes his injury-hit side, who were also struck with a terminal illness in the lead-up to the game, deserved to win as Alexander Isak scored a 38th-minute winner for Newcastle, making it three defeats in their last four Spurs matches.

“Very proud,” Postecoglou said of the performance. “I’m devastated that the players didn’t get the rewards they deserved because we were outstanding. The football we played was fantastic against a very good opponent in good form.

“It’s a game we deserve to win and on any other day we would have won it.”

He added: “We had 11 players ready for training on Thursday, but I don’t care about that. What matters to me is that the players gave an incredible performance.”

“It is unfair to them, more than anything else, that they are not getting the rewards they deserve today.”

He also added: “The only thing that stopped us in our tracks is not football.”

Howe: Gordon’s goal is his right

Newcastle coach Eddie Howe admitted that the ball hit Joelinton’s arm, but Gordon’s goal was correct.

He said of the incident in his post-match press conference: “I can’t sit here and lie and say I didn’t see it, because I saw it.

“It definitely hit Joelinton’s arm – I can tell you that too – but I don’t control the referee’s decision.

“I think his arm is down in a normal position. I think the referee and VAR followed the rules and protocols in place, and that’s why he was introduced.”

Howe also disagreed with Postecoglou’s view that Tottenham deserved to win the game.

“I thought we dominated the first half today. I thought we could have, and probably should have, been more dominant in that first half,” he said.

“Yes, Tottenham played well in the second half and they brought on some good players and pushed us back at times.

“But we did enough to get over the line.”