RateTheRef

No sign of John Mulligan must be having a a week off 😂

He is at Wigan. Must have been too early in the post for you to see it.

It was around 100:10 when the whistle sounded. I was expecting at least another minute, but as a home supporter I was relieved that there wasn't, as the Newcastle players looked exhausted.  It was initially said on commentary that it would be 9 added minutes, but the two home subs dead on the 90 minutes meant that 10 was on the board when it eventually went up about 30 seconds after the 90 was up.

It was certainly an exciting game and I concur with all of the comments around a lack of cautions.  As for the penalty, it is technically a correct decision but even as a Newcastle sympathiser it was hard to be overly delighted when it was finally given after over 4 minutes of reviewing the minutiae.  I felt a bit sorry for the visiting Bournemouth supporters, especially any who had also visited last season and been deprived of a win on that occasion by a VAR-recommended penalty.

Neil Hair, Stockport v Crewe. That’s why you need an EFL referee on 1st v 3rd. Neil went down injured during first half stoppage time and had to be replaced by National League referee Richard Eley. A young looking, pacy bloke, who to be fair, was quite good but didn’t have to do much. I expect him to be in the EFL soon. Not sure who it was but a bald headed bloke took over 4th official duties in the 2nd half, maybe the observer? He seemed to know what he was doing and was writing the stuff down on the papers. Top of the league, you’re having a laugh!

From your description it seems the appointed Coach on the game stepped in as a replacement 4th official...Lee Mason!

An impressive rise for Mr Eley, who I watched give a very competent performance at Blyth Spartans just after Christmas, so I am pleased to hear it went well for him on his unexpected EFL refereeing debut.

Nice to see him back and refereeing well. By all accounts he was good at Liverpool at the weekend and a good job last night too.

Congratulations to the whole team!

Really outstanding decision from Ian Hussin. Tight crossover on a high line so late in the game would be so easy to get wrong.

A great couple of months for Anthony Taylor. Very good at the World Cup and has carried that back into domestic games to give excellent performances in two big games at the Emirates (a very difficult ground for referees at the moment), either side of a seemingly successful Club World Cup.  Seems to be on top of his game at the moment.

Curious that his last 3 domestic matches have all featured Arsenal!