Football
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Western Sydney Wanderers coach Markus Babbel: Everybody in the stadium saw a penalty

Western Sydney coach Markus Babbel felt his A-League side was on the wrong side of a penalty call for the second week in a row. But his reaction was rather muted after the 2-0 loss to Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium.

It was in stark contrast to a furious Babbel of last week, who let rip with an expletive-laden press conference after a contentious penalty helped Melbourne City to a 3-2 win at the Wanderers. He awaits sanction for that outburst.

On Saturday night, he was measured in his response when questioned about a 53rd-minute tackle in the box by Jets defender Lachlan Jackson on Wanderers striker Kwame Yeboah.

The match official waved away the Wanderers' appeals for a spot kick, not once by twice.

"Everybody in the stadium saw it, but the most important man didn't see it, so we have to accept this," Babbel said, referring to match referee Kurt Ams.

After the initial decision, VAR reviewed the incident and Ams went to a pitch-side monitor to look at it again -- soon after he confirmed his original non-call.

While frustrated by the referee's call, the German admitted his team got what they deserved after a disjointed and lacklustre first-half performance.

"The bit of luck is not on your side because we did not deserve it before ... even if we got the penalty, I am not sure if we can score," he said.

The Jets scored in the 78th and 86th minutes through Angus Thurgate and Dimi Petratos but they should have been well ahead at half-time.

Only a standout performance from goalkeeper Daniel Lopar kept the visitors in the contest.

The Wanderers were much improved in the second half but Jets keeper Glen Moss did his bit to keep a clean sheet as Babbel's men slipped to a third consecutive loss.

It followed a flying start to the season for the overhauled Western Sydney, who led the league before their slump.

Babbel could not explain his players' poor opening 45 minutes against Newcastle.

"It is frustration, because first half we were not on the pitch, we didn't do what we wanted to do, it was more or less a freestyle," he said.

"I said at halftime this is not working, if you would follow our structure, if you follow how we want to play, you will see we will create chances, we will dominate them, and exactly this has happened."

Babbel said his squad needed to learn quickly from their mistakes.

"We have to work harder, listen more to the little details in front of the game," he said.

"It's got nothing to do with skills or talent or whatever, it's just a decision. I want to do it, I don't want to do it.

"It's very simple, and if you are ready to do it, you will see we'll get results."

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