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“An absolutely stonewall penalty but we don’t seem to get them” – that was John Carver speaking about Newcastle United back in March and it seems he had a point.

When the Magpies host Everton in the Premier League at St James’ Park on Boxing Day, it will be exactly a year since a referee last awarded United a spot kick in a competitive match.

On December 26 last year, Papiss Cisse lashed home from the spot at Old Trafford in the 87th minute against Manchester United - and that is the last time Newcastle were given a penalty.

That is a staggering 40 games ago. In fact, if United do not get awarded a spot kick against either Everton or West Bromwich Albion (December 28), they will have gone the entire calendar year of 2015 without a penality.

It seems unthinkable that any football team could play 40 matches without once receiving a penalty, but no official has awarded Newcastle a spot kick during that time - despite some pretty blatant infringements against them.

So when should United have been awarded penalties during that time? And why are they not getting the decisions?

Newcastle's long wait for a penalty Days since NUFC last got a penalty 360 Soccerbase

The penalties United could - and probably should - have been awarded:

Across the 40 matches, there will undoubtedly have been numerous penalty appeals Newcastle wrongly had turned down - but here’s six that almost certainly should have been given:

January 17, 2015 - Newcastle United 1-2 Southampton (Premier League)

In the dying moments of the game, Emmanuel Riviere hit a shot goalwards which Jose Fonte appeared to stick out an arm to block.

The Saints defender was far enough away to have moved out of the path of the ball, but he didn’t - yet the referee still did not point to the spot, denying Newcastle the chance to equalise.

An apoplectic Carver said of the incident: “It was an absolutely stonewall penalty. If he had his arms by his side you could argue it was ball to hand but his arms are an L-shape.

“Big decisions can cost people livelihoods and jobs but more importantly points.”

March 4, 2015 - Newcastle United 0-1 Manchester United (Premier League)

Riviere tends to turn up in a lot of these penalty shouts.

The Frenchman advanced into the area against Man United and Jonny Evans dragged him to the ground with the score still at 0-0 - but incredibly no penalty was given.

Carver again voiced his frustrations: “An absolutely stonewall penalty but we don’t seem to get them, especially at St. James’ Park. We don’t get them at St. James’ Park.

“The referee only has one look at it and at the time my gut feeling was that it was a penalty, but he hasn’t given it – he’s a human being.

“I have seen it five or six times now and it is a penalty. We all know how important the first goal is in this league, it is a different game then.”

March 15, 2015 - Everton 3-0 Newcastle United (Premier League)

James McCarthy used his arm to block a Mike Williamson shot on the line early on, but the referee didn’t see it and United went on to lose heavily.

Carver said of this one: “Even at 11 v 11 we were second best, we started brightly, and had a chance of a penalty but we don’t get those so that’s no surprise.”

March 21, 2015 - Newcastle United 1-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Francis Coquelin handled the ball during the second half, while Remy Cabella was scythed down in the box - yet neither of those were enough to convince the officials to give United a penalty.

Again Carver spoke after weeks of frustrating decisions: “I keep talking about not getting penalties. Today (against Arsenal) was a prime example of that.

“His (Coquelin) arm was in an unnatural position and the direction of the ball changed. It’s a penalty and we don’t get them.”

April 13, 2015 - Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United (Premier League)

Just before the interval, with Newcastle trailing 1-0, Dejan Lovren chopped Ayoze Perez down in the box. It was an obvious penalty at a crucial moment - but again it was not awarded.

Once again, a fuming Carver spoke up: “Everyone out there has seen it is a penalty. Even (then-Liverpool boss) Brendan (Rodgers) said straight away it is a penalty.

“I will phone referees’ chief Mike Riley tomorrow, he will probably agree, but it gets us nothing.”

October 25, 2015 - Sunderland 3-0 Newcastle United (Premier League)

That infamous game.

With the scoreline at 0-0, Georginio Wijnaldum attempted to advance into the box. He flicked the ball past Lee Cattermole, who blocked the ball with his arm.

If the handball was questionable, Cattermole then proceeded to drag Wijnaldum down.

No penalty was awarded for either incident - then the Black Cats broke at pace immediately, Fabricio Coloccini shoved down Steven Fletcher, and Adam Johnson stepped up to put the home side ahead from the spot in controversial fashion.

This time it was Steve McClaren who made his anger known: “Refereeing decisions are out of your control.

“It was never a penalty. The penalty and red card was a double whammy.”

How many penalties have Newcastle given away in the past year?

The answer to that question is five across all competitions - four in the Premier League and one in the Capital One Cup.

Here’s a rundown of them, and whether or not they should have been awarded:

February 21, 2015 - Manchester City 5-0 Newcastle United (Premier League)

Just 28 seconds into the match, Edin Dzeko was upended in the box and Sergio Aguero stepped up to score the first of five Man City goals. Definite penalty.

March 15, 2015 - Everton 3-0 Newcastle United (Premier League)

Another game after which Carver made clear he did not believe Newcastle were awarded penalties anymore, Everton did get one - and it was a stonewaller. Yoan Gouffran tripped Aaron Lennon, and Romelu Lukaku slotted home.

May 2, 2015 - Leicester City 3-0 Newcastle United (Premier League)

A game made infamous for Carver accusing of Williamson of getting himself deliberately sent-off, Leonardo Ulloa scored his second from the spot when Riviere appeared to shove Marcin Wasilewski. Probably was a penalty, though not entirely clear cut.

August 25, 2015 - Newcastle United 4-1 Northampton Town (Capital One Cup)

Cheick Tiote handled in the area and the referee rightly pointed to the spot. Marc Richards duly converted for the League Two side.

October 25, 2015 - Sunderland 3-0 Newcastle United (Premier League)

As has already been mentioned, United were not awarded a penalty at one end - before Coloccini was dismissed as the other for fouling Fletcher. Coloccini’s red card was later rescinded, but not because the decision to award the penalty was incorrect - Johnson scored and the complexion of this game changed completely.

poll loading Who would you have as NUFC's penalty taker now? 0+ VOTES SO FAR Papiss Cisse Aleksandar Mitrovic Siem de Jong Ayoze Perez Georginio Wijnaldum Jack Colback Moussa Sissoko Vurnon Anita Daryl Janmaat

So, why don’t the Magpies get awarded penalties anymore?

A whole host of reasons really - partly due to their own lack of invention, but also as has been shown earlier because luck has simply not been on their side.

The point is often made that the main explanation for why the top sides receive a greater number of penalties is because they attack with greater regularity, so they are more frequently in the opposition box.

Seeing as Newcastle have won just seven Premier League matches in 2015, it is therefore understandable that they won’t have been awarded a flurry of penalties.

On saying that, some of the decision-making from referees has also been awful.

Carver may have seemed like he was merely making excuses, but just about all of the penalties he spoke of were pretty clear infringements - and the less said about the spot-kick decisions during the Sunderland game the better.

It seems Newcastle just don’t get penalties anymore - but let’s hope that changes on the anniversary of their most-recent spot-kick on Boxing Day...