Hero Hemed stamp storm
PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION
TOMER HEMED scored the winner for Brighton but could face a retrospective ban for stamping.
The Seagulls striker appeared to stamp on Newcastle defender DeAndre Yedlin in the 89th minute.
Hemed claimed it was “an accident” but could still be in hot water with the FA after Toon midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a similar incident with Tottenham’s Dele Alli last month.
Yedlin said: “I felt something on my calf. Who knows if he meant it? That will be for the committee to decide. I’m sure they will.”
The pair had been involved in an angry flare-up earlier in the game but Hemed apologised afterwards and insisted he did not mean to stamp on the defender.
He said: “It was by accident. Before I told him, ‘If you can’t jump for the ball, why push me? Try to take the ball, don’t push me’.
“But after that, it was by accident. If I hurt him, I am sorry.”
Brighton boss Chris Hughton was shown a replay of the incident but insisted there
was no bad intent behind Hemed’s challenge.
He said: “I have been shown it. My impression is that there was absolutely no intent.
“It’s obviously very fresh but my opinion is there was no intent.”
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez refused to get involved but did complain that Brighton captain Bruno fouled Chancel Mbemba in the build-up to Hemed’s winner.
He said: “We are disappointed because the goal is a clear foul. It was a block, an illegal block.
“You cannot argue too much but it is very difficult to understand some things. They pushed my players.”
Brighton midfielder Dale Stephens revealed Hemed’s goal came as the result of a well-rehearsed trainingground routine.
He said: “We’ve tried it a few times. I’m glad it paid off, we change the blocker each time.”
Hughton said: “What you saw is what you’ll see in any game. It certainly wasn’t a foul. It was a really good finish.
“It was a hard-fought victory. They are a good side. They showed that in their last three games.
“Overall, we deserved it – not a lot in it, but we’ve deserved it. With seven points, it is a decent return.”