OPINION
Chris Sutton has taken to Twitter to argue that Isaac Hayden should not have been sent off in Newcastle United’s 5-0 defeat to Leicester City on Sunday.
The midfielder was dismissed for a rash follow-through on Dennis Praet just before half-time, reducing the Magpies to 10 men with the score at 1-0.
A glut of goals after the interval then compounded the misery for Steve Bruce’s men, who find themselves in the bottom three after seven matches.
But Sutton has leapt to the 24-year-old’s defence, claiming that the decision to send him for an early bath was incorrect.
Writing on his personal Twitter account, he said: “Hayden challenge not worthy of a red card…”
Hayden challenge not worthy of a red card…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) September 29, 2019
This was a miserable afternoon for the Magpies, and they could use all the support they can get in these torrid times, but where Sutton is getting this opinion from is anybody’s guess.
Watching the game, Hayden’s challenge looked like a red straight away, and in many ways, it was incredibly fortunate that Praet was able to walk away from the challenge unscathed.
Yes, Hayden did win the ball, but he also followed through with excessive force and planted his studs halfway up the Belgian’s shin.
It was indefensible, and on another day, he could have ended Praet’s season.
And yet Sutton is out here trying to defend Hayden.
He’s not alone either, with Robbie Savage rolling out the classic “game’s gone” line on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Frankly, it’s an antiquated and petty viewpoint that prioritises some misplaced, nostalgic perception of a simpler time over the safety and wellbeing of players.
Thankfully, there are others who hold a more rational opinion on the challenge.
Jim Beglin, for instance, tweeted his amazement that Hayden had the nerve to protest his dismissal, while The Times journalist Henry Winter was quick to scold the midfielder for his “reckless” play via his personal account.
The general balance of opinion seems to be weighted heavily against Sutton and Savage.
Even Graeme Souness, one of footballs greatest hard men, described the challenge as a potential “leg-breaker” on Sky Sports, as quoted by the Chronicle, and expressed his disapproval of the challenge.
Taking all that into account, plus the visual evidence, it’s hard to believe that Sutton can actually be serious in suggesting that it wasn’t a sending off.