Shola Ameobi admits he was confused by one decision Benitez made on Sunday

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Newcastle United lost 2-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

Former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi has told Sky Sports that he didn’t really grasp why Rafael Benitez used DeAndre Yedlin in a back three against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Magpies went down to a 2-1 defeat at St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, with Diogo Jota opening the scoring for Wolves before Ayoze Perez equalised.

However, Yedlin was sent off for a second half foul on Jota, and Newcastle lost it at death when Matt Doherty headed home the rebound from a saved Jota effort.

Newcastle were left raging by Yedlin’s red card and the lack of punishment for an apparent from Wolves defender Willy Boly on Perez.

Magpies boss Benitez was particularly angry, but one decision he made at half time ultimately led to the red card in what appeared a strange choice.

Centre back Federico Fernandez was substituted at half time through injured, and rather than bring on left back Paul Dummett and shift to a back four, Benitez threw on right back Javi Manquillo and moved Yedlin to play as a right-sided centre back.

Benitez appeared to be committed to matching up Wolves’ 3-4-3 setup, but Yedlin looked uncomfortable in an unfamiliar role, and it played a part in his red card.

After the game, ex-Newcastle striker Ameobi suggested that Benitez’s decision left him wondering just why Yedlin was being played in that role when Dummett should have come on, feeling that it contributed to Newcastle losing in the end.

“Obviously when they came out after half time, we wondered why Yedlin was playing on the right side of a three,” said Ameobi. “You’ve got Paul Dummett on the bench, who is the obvious choice for me to come in there,” he added.