Back to the Premier League Newsfeed

Benitez: Soft penalty changed everything in late defeat to Chelsea

The Magpies held Maurizio Sarri's side off until Eden Hazard converted a penalty, paving the way for a dramatic end to the game

Rafael Benitez criticised the award of a "soft" Chelsea penalty as Newcastle United suffered a controversial 2-1 defeat at St James' Park on Sunday.

A Newcastle side set up to frustrate Chelsea held Maurizio Sarri's visitors at bay for 76 minutes until referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot following Fabian Schar's challenge on Marcos Alonso, allowing Eden Hazard to open the scoring.

Replays suggested Schar had got a foot to the ball, but Newcastle responded seven minutes later through Joselu's near-post header, benefiting from some fortune of their own, with DeAndre Yedlin appearing to foul Olivier Giroud in the build-up.