Newcastle legend makes 'guessing' claim in Jhon Duran controversy

The Colombia international was shown a straight red card in the 32nd minute for what Taylor perceived to be a stamp on Magpies defender Fabian Schar.

But Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day, declared the decision “harsh” and suggested the official had been influenced by the reaction of other players on the pitch.

Villa are appealing the decision with Duran, their top scorer in all competitions this season, facing a three-match ban.

Shearer believes they should be successful, he said: "I think it’s a harsh decision. I think the referee guesses on the reaction of the players. 

“When Duran plants his left foot, he twists his ankle when he puts it down, so automatically that pushes you to your left-hand side and he has to come back in so that’s why he stands on him. I think it is a harsh decision.

"Once they give it on the pitch, they weren’t going to overturn it. I just thought that he should have just slowed down and taken a bit more time. I thought it was a poor decision."

Duran’s appeal is expected to be heard by a regulatory commission over the weekend with the onus on Villa to demonstrate, via either written or video evidence, Taylor made an “obvious error” in issuing a red card.  

Villa were already trailing to Anthony Gordon’s second-minute opener when Duran was dismissed and eventually fell to a 3-0 defeat, Alexander Isak and Joelinton scoring for the rampant hosts in the second half.

The result saw Unai Emery’s team fall to ninth in the Premier League table, though they are one of five teams separated by a single point in what is shaping up to be a tightly-contested battle for European football over the second half of the season.

They host Brighton, another contender in the race, on Monday night with midfielder Amadou Onana urging them to quickly move on from the Boxing Day setback.

He said: “It’s one of those days when you just have to try and forget it as quickly as you can and focus on the next one.

“I think playing for an hour with 10 men against Newcastle away, it was never going to be easy.

“I think even after we conceded (after two minutes) we were quite good in positions, we were playing well.

“But, like I say, when you go down to 10 men you make it difficult for yourself.”

Onana continued: “I think the way we fought until the end, I don’t think anyone abandoned before the final whistle.

“We stuck together as a team, tried to do as good as we could and I’m proud of the team for showing that mentality.”