Ref justice leaves Benitez seeing red and United feeling anything but at home again
SENDING-OFF THE TALKING POINT AS TOON’S AWFUL ST JAMES’ FORM GOES ON
“We just fell a little bit short in the end.
“I take full responsibility for this one and that is all I can say.”
However, Yedlin admitted the decision could have been different had VAR been put in place.
The right-back added: “Of course, but VAR is not here yet.
“The referee decided to give it a red card and it is what it is.”
The black and whites almost held out for a point in the Premier League clash on Tyneside and were eventually floored by a last-gasp Matt Doherty’s header.
However, Newcastle came agonisingly close to what would have been a creditable draw.
Yedlin said: “It was unbelievable and I credit all of the guys for their effort.
“They were all involved and they put in an unbelievable effort.
“It is not easy with 10 men so credit to all of them.
“Again I apologise to everyone for what happened.” RAFA Benitez was left furious by referee Mike Dean controversially sending off DeAndre Yedlin to hand Wolverhampton Wanderers the advantage at St James’ Park.
It was that decision which left United short-handed for more than half an hour in the second half and in the end Wolves managed to expose the cracks in the Toon defence.
Dean was booed and jeered off the field after feeling Yedlin’s tug on Diogo Jota denied the visitors a goalscoring opportunity after the break.
Newcastle had battled their way back into the game after Jota’s opener in the first half through Ayoze Perez - but Benitez’s side was left choked by a winning goal deep into stoppage time from Matt Doherty.
It resulted in a mass exit of United fans who had nervously watched their side go close to holding on to a vital point with 10 men.
The clash had started with a lot more promise for the black and whites.
Newcastle created a chance after just one minute as Mo Diame clipped the ball into the box for Salomon Rondon - but he could only direct an acrobatic shot into the hands of Portugal international and Euro 2016-winning stopper Rui Patricio.
Wolves posed a few early questions of the Magpies with a series of early corners but Newcastle managed to clear their lines.
On 13 minutes Wolves earned a free-kick on the left-hand side but Ruben Neves curled the ball straight into the hands of Martin Dubravka.
However, he was unable to keep out Diogo Jota four minutes later.
It may be the season of goodwill but the spirit of generosity was extended too far to Jota, a player Benitez once wanted to sign.
He found himself with time and space in the box after Helder Costa’s cross to rifle home from close range after Jamaal Lascelles offered him plenty of room in the danger area.
The lead lasted just five minutes as Perez won a free-kick near the edge of the box.
Rondon stepped up and hammered the ball off the underside of the bar but, with the woodwork still quivering the No 9 reacted quickly to whip in a fine cross which Perez flicked home to beat Patricio.
With United’s tails in the air, a Ki free-kick was curled to the back post for Federico Fernandez but he could only head straight at the goalkeeper.
Newcastle were forced into a change at half-time with Fernandez, who had had a good game, replaced by Javier Manquillo due to a knock.
Manquillo was fielded as a right wing-back with DeAndre Yedlin moved into the back three.
However, Newcastle started the second half in a shaky manner.
First, Lascelles was lucky to get away with a body check on the halfway line on Jota with Dean opting against any punishment.
Yet there was no escape six minutes later when Jota bustled through