Southampton suffered defeat in their first game of the Premier League season, with Newcastle United edging the St James’ Park affair 1-0.
Joelinton scored the only goal of the game after Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy had gifted the ball to Alexander Isak who squared to his team-mate.
It was an error that may well have left Russell Martin with no choice but to sign a new goalkeeper this summer, with McCarthy’s weakness with the ball at his feet also a feature of pre-season.
One player that has already arrived to improve the Southampton side is Ben Brereton Diaz and the striker was involved in a controversial moment in the Newcastle defeat.
Brereton Diaz chased a long ball before shoving Fabian Schar who was awarded a free-kick.
However, Schar reacted angrily to the incident, squaring up to Brereton Diaz before throwing his head towards the Saints man and subsequently being sent off in the 28th-minute.
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Stephen Warnock blasts Ben Brereton Diaz for Fabian Schar red card
It would be fair to say that Brereton Diaz made the most of the contact, dramatically falling to the floor holding his face.
Schar is an experienced player, though, and should know better than to give the referee a decision to make.
Whether or not Brereton Diaz overreacted, you simply cannot throw your head at an opposing player and most unbiased observers would agree that the red card was the correct punishment in the modern game.
Pundit Stephen Warnock was on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch on Monday morning alongside ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher where the incident was discussed.
Gallagher felt the decision was justified, explaining: “I don’t think [the referee has another option]. Schar will probably look back and think ‘I didn’t need to do that’.
“The referee’s not got much choice but Brereton Diaz didn’t do him any favours with the way he went down.
“But he will argue Schar put his head into his and it’s a red card.
“It’s hard to say it’s not a red card.”
Warnock disagreed, though, as he responded: “I don’t like it all. It’s not a red card. There’s not enough aggression.
“That was Brereton Diaz also putting his head in. What happens if both players go down in that situation? Do you send both off?
“Brereton Diaz is embarrassing. That’s shocking doing that to a fellow pro. It’s pathetic.”
Brereton Diaz right to exaggerate Schar contact
Despite Warnock’s view, almost every fan would want their player to do the same if it happened to one of their players.
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Premier League officials have unfortunately shown time and time again that there is no merit to be gained from honesty and you can be assured that if the roles were reversed a Newcastle player would have done the same.
Whether it is right or not is another question, but Warnock’s suggestion that both players made the same action is simply false, with Schar the obvious aggressor in the situation.
Southampton fans have for too long accused their side of lacking the street-smartness needed to succeed in the Premier League and few will take issue with Brereton Diaz simply playing the game.
Perhaps it’s a damning indictment of the state of the game, but with the wider context considered you cannot argue that Brereton Diaz was wrong to help make the referee’s decision for him.