When Chris Wood left St James’ Park for Nottingham Forest in January, there were few murmurs of complaint from the Newcastle faithful. If anything, the striker was seen as something of a joke.

The joke was very much on his former employers on Boxing Day when he returned to score a hat-trick and shatter a home record that had seen them win seven league games in a row, conceding only one in the process.

Things looked very different after 20 minutes when Alexander Isak converted from the penalty spot having been fouled by Ola Aina. It was soft, in the grey area of not being a “clear and obvious error.” Had it not been given, VAR would likely not have overturned that decision either.