Ref Watch: Aston Villa's Jhon Duran deserves a red card against Newcastle, says Dermot Gallagher | Football News

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher assesses the controversial moments from Boxing Day action, including the red cards of Aston Villa's Jhon Duran and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes.

Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa

INCIDENT: Duran was sent off as he looked to dislodge Newcastle's Fabian Schar. Referee Anthony Taylor took 30 seconds to show Duran a red card after the incident. Villa boss Unai Emery revealed after the game that the club will appeal against Duran's three-match ban.

DERMOT SAYS: I thought it was a red card. People say he's off balance because Schar is pulling him and there will always be contact, but I thought he could avoid it. That's what Anthony Taylor saw.

What I like about him is that Taylor follows him, sees what happened and doesn't take his time. I have no problem with that since the ball is dead. He probably got something from the assistant and the fourth official. He took his time, not rashly. His right leg changes direction. That's what Anthony saw. I can see that. The assistant said he saw it too.

The decision was made in real time, no one went to the monitor as a CSI failure. The process was about human beings making the right decision.

VAR looked at it. He felt the referee got it right. Let's say he sends it to the screen, and when you see it in slow motion, it looks really bad. So if Taylor is sent there, I'm sure he'd still say it's a red card.

Emery has repeatedly alluded to a three-match ban. Is a three game ban too much for that? That could be why he's so angry about it.

They would have to prove that the judge made a clear and obvious error – this makes an appeal quite difficult.

INCIDENT: Joelinton received a yellow card at the end of the first half. Morgan Rogers felt he got punched in the face here, but did he eat some of it?

DERMOT SAYS: The referee handled this really well. Whether he should take action against Rogers is debatable. He certainly doesn't punch him in the face, it's not violent, but a player doesn't have to do that.

Wolves 2-0 Man Utd

INCIDENT: Bruno Fernandes is sent off by referee Tony Harrington for his second yellow card. He got his first as he brought down Matheus Cunha. His second came after a stoppage time match against Nelson Semedo.

DERMOT SAYS: When you make the tackle first, you will always get a yellow card. It's a bog standard. No attempt to play the ball. Tony Harrington did really well, he's really growing in confidence.

I don't know why he made a second attempt, it's so far away. If you look at it closely, it's not a wise takedown and a yellow card offence. Everyone's disappointed when you're turned off, but that was one thing.

INCIDENT: Wolves scored their first goal directly from a corner. Andre Onana complained, suggesting Matt Doherty had interfered with him on the goal line. The goal stood.

DERMOT SAYS: Matt Doherty has every right to stand where he stands. He's not doing anything wrong. He was allowed to hold on.

Onana actually pushes Doherty in the back and Doherty doesn't move towards him. There's a hand from Doherty, but his starting position was there, he didn't pull back and move backwards.

Southampton 0-1 West Ham

INCIDENT: The red card was given to Guido Rodriguez from West Ham in Southampton. Lewis Smith was asked to take another look at this and declined the invitation. Was it the right decision?

DERMOT SAYS: One hundred percent. This is where VAR really, really works. The referee thinks he slipped with two feet and takes him out. But when you look at him, he goes to get away and doesn't catch him. The referee looks and correctly says only a yellow card.

Nottm Forest 1-0 Tottenham

INCIDENT: Grandpa Spence was sent off in second-half stoppage time for a second yellow card. He got the first one for kicking the ball. Did the second offense then justify the exclusion?

DERMOT SAYS: He doesn't have to do that. Not smart at 90+4, no need for it. He has no intention of playing the ball, he paid for a moment of anger earlier when he threw the ball.

INCIDENT: Tottenham appealed for a penalty because they thought Nottingham Forest defender Murillo had handled the ball in the box. What did you think of this Dermot?

DERMOT SAYS: He would be very angry if there was a penalty for this. Just hit him, we all know he can't move his arm so it can't be a penalty.

INCIDENT: Forest were adjudged Fraser Forster to have handled the ball outside their penalty area but escaped any booking.

DERMOT SAYS: The thing to remember is that the ball, not Fraser Forster, must stay in the penalty area. If the ball is over the line, which it was, it doesn't matter.

Liverpool 3-1 Leicester

INCIDENT: During Liverpool's win over Leicester there was an offside that seemed to last forever, late on. In fact, three minutes and 14 seconds, but it was already marked on the field. Does this just reinforce the argument for the semi-automatic offside to be thrown earlier?

DERMOT SAYS: There were two checks, that's why it took so long. People say it's outrageous, but it's what people have been asking for. Now you've given them the technology to make the right decision.

This is the process, this is what we were told, this is what we saw. We have come a long way in five years from where we were, we got far more accurate decisions. It's much, much better. Semi-automatic offside is in progress. Maybe if it's going to take a while, maybe wait until next season.

When this is rolled out it must be 100 percent, small tweaks are needed right now.

INCIDENT: There was an early penalty for Leicester at Liverpool. The ball hit Cody Gakpo's hand from the corner, but was it in an unnatural position?

DERMOT SAYS: It would be so hard to give. No one could see that there. There is no evidence that he handled the ball, so stick to the decision on the field. People don't like to say this about referees, but common sense prevailed.