Rafa Benitez slams officials after Newcastle concede last-minute equaliser against Wolves

Rafa Benitez complained officials do not ‘understand the rules’ after watching Newcastle concede a 95th minute equaliser at Wolves.

Newcastle were seconds away from a victory to go three points clear of the relegation zone when Willy Boly headed in from close range.

But Benitez felt a foul should have been awarded with Boly laying hands on Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The Spaniard marched onto the pitch at the final whistle and raged at referee Graham Scott.

Rafa Benitez was frustrated after Newcastle conceded a last-minute equaliser at Wolves

Benitez’s anger was enhanced because Wolves scored a stoppage-time winner at St James’ Park in the reverse of this fixture in December, having believed Newcastle should have been given a foul beforehand for an elbow by Boly on Ayoze Perez.

After this latest set-back, he said: ‘In England they don’t understand the rules. I can say many things but it will not change anything.

‘I didn’t like the challenge at the end. You have to protect the keeper. We have been here for years and it’s still very difficult to explain that.

‘We can say it is whatever you want. Maybe it’s a foul before on (Miguel) Almiron too, you can say many things but it won’t change what happened, like in the first game.’

Willy Boly climbed above Magpies keeper Martin Dubravka to head in the late leveller

Benitez did however concede that his goalkeeper could have been stronger. That was the view of Jamaal Lascelles, who in the immediate aftermath of the goal turned his attentions on Dubravka in fiery scenes that at one stage looked like getting physical.

‘Martin was talking about more protection, Jamaal was saying that maybe Martin could deal with the cross in another way,’ Benitez said. 

‘It is a bad way to concede. We had one more point but it is a pity because we could have had three.’

Newcastle could have pulled three points clear of the drop zone with a victory at Molineux