Jacob Ramsey sent off for second yellow as penalty verdict swings match at St James' Park

jacob ramsey was controversially sent off for a second yellow in injury time of the first half at St James' Park, a decision that reduced the home side to ten men and immediately preceded a penalty that gave the Magpies the lead.

Jacob Ramsey shown second yellow after clash with Senne Lammens

Referee Peter Bankes handed Jacob Ramsey a second yellow after judging the Newcastle midfielder to have dived following a challenge from Senne Lammens as the first half entered stoppage time. The decision provoked fury from the home fans and left Newcastle a man down going into the break.

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given called the red card "extremely harsh, " saying: "I think because he doesn't go down when the keeper is out, he takes a step, takes a second and then just collapses. I think that's what they've seen but I think it's harsh as well. " Former Rangers forward Ally McCoist also questioned the intention behind Ramsey's falling, adding: "I wasn't sure he was looking for it. He knocks the ball by him, I’m not sure it’s a real effort to con the referee, to be honest with you. "

Immediate penalty awarded and converted in frantic added time

The red card was the catalyst for a chaotic spell of first-half stoppage time. Anthony Gordon ran up the other end, cut inside Fernandes and fell over the Portuguese midfielder's trailing leg. Gordon then stepped up and converted from the penalty spot, "sending Lammens the wrong way" to give the Magpies the lead.

Shay Given described the penalty decision as clearer than the red card, saying: "This is a much easier decision for Peter Bankes, he took his time, but you saw Sandro Tonali was adamant and then he's convinced himself. Bruno Fernandes was pleading innocence but I think he'll see from the replay it was a clear penalty, knee on knee, it's a penalty for me. "

United responded as Fernandes and Casemiro drew them level

Bruno Fernandes then pulled the visitors back into the game. His out-swinging free-kick was headed in by Casemiro at the near post, restoring parity after the penalty and keeping the contest level following the tumultuous close of the first half.

Carrick's side went into the match on a seven-match unbeaten run, and the result kept them in the upper reaches of the Premier League table; they are currently third after winning six of Carrick's seven matches in charge since he replaced Ruben Amorim at the start of 2026.

The immediate aftermath saw pundits and ex-players debate both calls: the penalty was widely defended as correct, while Ramsey's red card was branded "harsh" by commentators who questioned whether he had been attempting to deceive the referee.

The match at St James' Park will be remembered for the dramatic closing moments of the first half — a second yellow for Jacob Ramsey, a converted penalty, and a quick United reply a Fernandes free-kick and Casemiro header — leaving both teams level and supporters still talking about the decisions that flipped the game's momentum.

Officials have stood by the penalty decision, and the contest moved into the second half level after the stoppage-time drama.