Darren Bent slams ‘shocking’ Jetro Willems after Newcastle’s Leicester defeat

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Did Jetro Willems dive during the build-up to Yoshinori Muto’s goal in Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup defeat to Premier League rivals Leicester City?

Darren Bent has slammed Newcastle United’s Jetro Willems for an alleged dive in the build up to Yoshinori Muto’s goal in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Leicester City, telling Quest that the strike should have been ruled out.

Just minutes after half-time, Japanese international Muto scored his first Newcastle goal since that thrilling 3-2 defeat to Manchester United 11 months ago, tapping in from close range after the ball broke invitingly in the penalty area.

While there was nothing untoward about Muto’s involvement, Bent believes that Newcastle were fortunate that referee Tim Robinson decided to let the equaliser stand. Willems, whose dart down the left helped cancel out James Maddison’s set-piece opener, flopped like a salmon under minimal pressure from Ricardo in a rather desperate attempt to win a penalty.

Muto put the loose ball into the net a split-second later and the situation did not sit well with a former Sunderland striker.

“Because he’s dived the ref has got to stop the play and book him. The goal shouldn’t have counted because it’s the most flamboyant dive I think I’ve ever seen. It’s shocking really,” a clearly incensed Bent said after the game.

“I’d have liked to have seen what the ref would have done if he hadn’t scored because you book players (for diving) everywhere else on the pitch. It’s a blatant dive.”

Muto’s goal wasn’t enough to seal a place in the third round for Steve Bruce’s Magpies, however, with Leicester prevailing on penalties after Jonjo Shelvey’s spot-kick was saved by a sprawling Kasper Schmeichel.

On the upside, an early exit allows Newcastle to focus on pushing their way up the Premier League table. But with Bruce making it clear that he wanted a cup run this season, his dream job isn’t getting any easier.