The Newcastle United striker scored twice to lead his side to victory at Elland Road last weekend.
Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle has explained why he chose not to celebrate his second goal in the win over Leeds United at Elland Road last weekend, as reported by Chronicle Live.
Gayle struck twice to take his tally for the season to 13 in 13 Championship games and lead the Magpies to an eighth league win in a row.
After scoring his first, which was gifted to him by a calamitous error from Whites goalkeeper Rob Green, the striker shushed the home crowd, something which inevitably did not go down too well.
After sliding in to net a second in the second half, though, Gayle did not react at all, apart from to hold his finger and thumb close together.
That gesture has been interpreted by some as a slight towards Leeds – calling them a small club, or something similar.
However, he has now explained that he did not celebrate the second because he had been warned by the referee not to antagonise the home fans, and revealed that his gesture was a reaction to a fan narrowly missing him with a thrown inhaler.
Gayle said, via Chronicle Live: “The referee told me I would be booked if I celebrated and antagonised the fans. I didn’t celebrate, and one of them tried chucking an asthma inhaler at me.
“I held up my fingers to say, ‘You were that close to hitting me’, but Newcastle and Leeds fans have swerved it into something else.
“I’ll celebrate if I score against Blackburn.”
Gayle has been utterly on fire for the Magpies so far this season, and is the driving force behind their promotion push as leaders.
He explained this week that he is reaping the rewards of a change to his playing style made by Rafa Benitez, and he will be hoping to add another strike this weekend.
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