Referee Stuart Attwell was forced to make a number of big calls during Burnley’s clash against Newcastle United at the weekend.

Burnley skipper sends defiant message after narrow defeat with 10 men against Ne...

The official awarded a penalty apiece to either side, while also dismissing Burnley’s Lucas Pires with a straight red.

The left-back, making his first Premier League start, was shown his marching orders after bringing Anthony Elanga down as last man as the Newcastle man ran through on goal.

Only a few minutes later, Attwell was then sent to the monitors to review a handball in the box from Lesley Ugochukwu, resulting in the official pointing to the spot.

Anthony Gordon converted the spot kick to double Newcastle’s lead after Bruno Guimaraes had opened the scoring direct from a corner, with Attwell adjudging Ugochukwu’s arms to be in an unnatural position.

After hanging on with 10 men, Burnley were awarded a penalty of their own near the end as Jacob Ramsey blocked Zian Flemming’s goalbound effort with his hand.

Once again it wasn’t given on the field, but VAR spotted it and forced the referee to review the footage on the pitchside monitor.

Pires was sent off during Burnley's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

placeholder image — Pires was sent off during Burnley's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

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Analysing the penalty calls on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, former top flight official Dermot Gallagher said: “He [Ugochukwu] puts his arm out.

“Handball is easier for the referee's now because we have a start point – is the arm out away from the body? It is and he's going to be penalised. We see a lot of these, they're unfortunate, but we know where we are.

“Ramsey's one is deliberate because you can see that he puts his arm out. It's only a yellow card because the goalkeeper was behind him and diving to stop the shot. If the goalkeeper isn't there, it's a red card.”

As for Pires’ red, Gallagher and former striker Jay Bothroyd both concurred with the decision, despite the Brazilian appearing to make minimal contact with Elanga.

"No complaints,” Gallagher said. “Elanga is clear through. Red card.”

Bothroyd added: “Definitely a red.”

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