Referee Steve Martin might share his name with an iconic comedian, but Newcastle United fans saw nothing funny about his performance at the City Ground.
Martin handed opponents Nottingham Forest two first-half penalties and sent off two Magpies players before the first 45 minutes were up.
Jonjo Shelvey saw red for a clash with Henri Lansbury just after the half-hour mark, but Karl Darlow saved Nicklas Bendtner’s spot-kick and Newcastle took the lead 10-or-so minutes later through Matt Ritchie.
MISS! Bendtner can't convert!
Golden opportunity for #NFFC!
Watch live on Sky Sports 1!
Brought to you by @Screwfix https://t.co/gW5Drk4qHq— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 2, 2016
Martin wasn’t done, though, and there was still time before the break to brandish the red card again, with Paul Dummett the recipient.
But former Forest goalkeeper Darlow wasn’t going to be beaten that easily and saved again, this time from Bendtner’s fellow ex-Arsenal man Lansbury.
And things got worse after half-time, when the referee ignored handball claims as Bendtner did finally equalise for the hosts.
To say the Toon Army weren’t pleased with Martin’s first-half display would be a massive understatement – these tweets should give you an idea of the sentiment.
https://twitter.com/DanielB00955238/status/804790445071101955
Shelvey and dummett will both be banned whilst the ref will get away with having the worst game I have ever seen
— Lee (@monkeyfish30) December 2, 2016
This ref is the worst I've ever seen since nam
— Ainslie (@sam_ainslie27) December 2, 2016
The worst thing is, you're not allowed to criticise the ref or they'll get fined. They're getting away with fucking murder.
— Geordie Faithful (@GeordieFalthful) December 2, 2016
And of course some jokingly suggested Martin’s allegiances might lie elsewhere in the North East.
Cmon ref you haven't given Forest a penalty for 15 mins or sent one of our players off , pull your finger out u Mackem twat!!!!
— david richardson (@david1892nufc) December 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/jimmybass18/status/804793206277804032
To make matters worse for the Magpies, Forest snatched a late win as Jamaal Lascelles – who also joined Newcastle from the Nottingham club – turned into his own net with less than five minutes to go.
The defeat means Newcastle could be knocked off the top of the Championship table this weekend if second-placed Brighton and Hove Albion win at Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.
Catch up with this week’s episode of Football Friday Live
