Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith branded Sean Longstaff’s tackle on Ruben Neves "dangerous".
Longstaff was shown a straight red card for the challenge 11 minutes from time at St James’ Park.
And Smith, along with fellow Sky pundits Roy Keane and Graeme Souness, believes referee Kevin Friend made the correct call.
“Yeah he looks to the ground,” Smith said in the immediate aftermath to the challenge.
“He has skidded across the turf and I think the boot was high.
“They would argue he is not in control of his actions.
“In some ways it is like the Ryan Bertrand one at Southampton. You wouldn’t call it a vicious challenge, but the boot is high and it’s dangerous.”
While former Newcastle boss Souness felt sympathy for the 19-year-old.
He said: “I think he is a wee bit unlucky here. He goes to ground early, he doesn't get a lot of the ball which might be a bit of the problem. He leaves his foot there to dangle.”
Before Keane added: “You can always tell by a players reaction. The kid himself knows, you can see his reaction when the card comes out, nobody complains.
“He is slightly unucky. He is not in control and the raised foot.”
Souness then concluded: “It is a sending off but I would cut him slack with that as I don’t think he’s meant it.”
