Sky Sports co-commentator Andy Hinchcliffe said it did not look as if Thierno Barry deliberately took out Fabian Schar before scoring for Everton against Newcastle United in the Premier League at St James' Park.
The defender went down holding his face after appearing to be caught by a flailing arm as Barry ran across the penalty area before scoring from close range. Schar stayed down after the incident and had to leave the pitch after play resumed, following a check by the video assistant referee.
Everton's goal was ultimately given, after two potential offsides were cleared. It appears the possible foul was swiftly dismissed.
Hinchcliffe's verdict on the challenge
Speaking over replays of the goal, Hinchcliffe, who played over 200 times for Monday night's visitors, said on Sky: "I just wonder whether Newcastle are saying that Thierno Barry may have fouled Schar as he made his way into that goalscoring position. Did he take out the centre-half?"
However, as a VAR check went on, the former England international concluded: "Plenty for VAR to look at here. It didn't look as if there was a foul on Schar there."
"So it's the offside decisions that are the big calls," he reiterated, adding: "It didn't look as if Barry had taken out Schar."
Defensive criticism after the goal stands
After not receiving a reprieve from video assistant referee Paul Howard, his assistant Stuart Burt, nor on-field referee John Brooks, criticism for the defending followed. Hinchcliffe said: "Defensively for Newcastle, it's truly shocking.
"The run that [Tyrique] George makes, [Amar] Dedic and [Anthony] Elanga, it's two against one; both of them are just concentrating on the ball, and neither has appreciated the run of George. It's terrible goalkeeping as well; he doesn't get down quickly enough."
He added: "I said about the zippy surface with the rain coming down; maybe that's the problem, but you've got a full-back and a midfielder just not tracking a runner, and a goalkeeper not collecting."
Further reaction from pundits
Hinchcliffe concluded: "The way that Newcastle were opened up defensively was just appalling, far too easy for George to get in. Everton were certainly helped along the way by some terrible, terrible Newcastle defending. Dedic, Elanga, the goalkeeper as well, that's an avoidable goal."
John Anderson agreed on BBC Radio Newcastle, first focusing on Lukas Hornicek. The former Magpies defender said: "I think this could be ruled out, but Hornicek should save it; if it's ruled out, the goalkeeper is blessed."
After it was not, Anderson continued: "It's poor defending as well; you can't let him run in. There's a huge gap, a huge space; they don't track the runner."
