Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has dissected the key incidents from Newcastle United's 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The Magpies extended their winning run to catapult themselves back in the European qualification picture, thanks to goals from Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak. Their sixth consecutive triumph wasn't without controversy however, with Eddie Howe's side forced to overcome an early Son Heung-min goal to go to within one point of the top four.

Gordon's equaliser sparked outrage from the Spurs head coach, Ange Postecoglou, after it hit Joelinton's hand in the build-up to the leveller. However, due to the incident being in the build-up to the equaliser and not directly involved in the goal, there was no reason for VAR to intervene.

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Gallagher explained: "It's the law isn't it? The law is 'has he deliberately handled the ball?' Because he didn't score, it didn't lead to him scoring so it goes back to' is it deliberate?'

"If you watch, his arms are out and he is bringing his arm in, his arm is down by his side. He can't bring it in any further. It strikes him, there is no doubt about that, so the argument is is it deliberate? The referee said no and the VAR said no.

"Whether they like it or not that is the rule and they have to play on. I think his arm starts in an unnatural position but you can see quite clearly he is trying to bring his arm in and he does.

"The rule has changed, don't forget, the rule originally was like that - has it led to a goal in the build up? And we saw the very famous one, the Scottish boy from West Ham, he had a goal ruled out on the halfway line.

"And they said as well it has got to be the scorer. Well he wasn't the scorer, people don't like it Rob but that is the rule. He didn't score, it led to a goal. We saw it last year at Motherwell vs Rangers, exactly the same thing happened.

"And the guy whose hand was struck it actually scored the goal. If you run it again, he brings his arm in."

Spurs had complaints over a possible second yellow card for Newcastle defender Dan Burn after the centre-back was penalised for handball on the halfway line. Burn had already been booked, however, Gallagher felt the furore over a second bookable offence was overegged.

He said: "Handball is not mandatory yellow card. I felt a little bit for Dan Burn there, it does strike him on the arm and he is trying to bring the arm in.

"This is actually what players are trying to do now, make themselves smaller. I think the referee, halfway line, handball and free-kick. Get on with it."

"I don't think it's a red card," the former referee added on possible complaints over a red card for Joelinton after the Magpies midfielder caught Lucas Bergvall with his arm. "They are close together. He hasn't thrown it as a weapon, he is too close to actually get power or leverage behind it."

There was an incident involving Gordon and initially, Gallagher felt it should have been a penalty following a tangle with Dejan Kulusevski. However, the former official went back on his initial decision, he said: "I have to hold my hand up here because when I saw this first of all I thought penalty. A lot of the times I think go with your gut reaction.

"When I look at it I think, my mantra somebody pointed out on Sunday when I pointed out was 'look, the guy is already there what can he do. He can't make himself invisible. So I think they have clashed and I think actually the referee has got it right."