Ralph Hasenhuttl
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl admits he has still not seen James Ward-Prowse’s dramatic late penalty at St James’s Park. Saints were awarded a spot-kick deep into second-half stoppage time when Adam Armstrong went down under the challenge of Jamaal Lascelles. Ward-Prowse stepped up and duly converted to earn his side a 2-2 draw. But Hasenhuttl says he could not bring himself to watch the late drama. Discussing Ward-Prowse’s composure from the spot,
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “At first I was happy I had Reddy (Nathan Redmond) from the bench who made this super pass and Adam who was running deep. We were still believing and finally a captain who takes the responsibility and makes a good penalty. One I haven’t seen so far, but I’ve heard that it was good!”
Asked about the award of the penalty, which was given after referee Paul Tierney went to consult the pitchside monitor,
Ralph Hasenhuttl added: “I have seen it and it is a clear penalty, absolutely clear. Mike Dean was the VAR and he couldn’t say no that it wasn’t a penalty. It was otherwise a clear goal chance. He (Lascelles) didn’t take the ball, so there was no chance to kick the ball. It was a clear penalty for me, yes.”
