By Craig Hope

CHRIS Hughton believes that Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Derby County hinged on the award of the penalty which led to the home side's second.

The Magpies were already trailing to Rob Hulse's first-half header when, in the 58^th minute, Michael Tonge was played in on goal by Stephen Pearson.

The on-loan midfielder had Jonas Gutierrez hot on his heels and, after the Argentine appeared to nick the ball from the toe of his opponent, Tonge tumbled to the turf only for referee Anthony Taylor to ignore the fall.

But a linesman's flag was to prove decisive and the man in black was persuaded to point to the spot allowing Kris Commons to double the lead.

The decision disappointed United boss Hughton and, when he spoke to nufcTV after the game, he pointed to that moment as the moment the game swung heavily in County's favour.

"The second goal has changed the game because at 1-0 you always have a chance," he said.

"We had missed a couple of good chances and looked like scoring at that point.

"But the game has swung on the award of the penalty.

"You don't want to bemoan bad decisions but this has changed the game.

"The referee was in the best position and he saw the challenge and didn't give the penalty.

"Yet the linesman, who didn't have as good as view, has waved for the penalty.

"That goal has killed us and within five minutes or so they've got a third.

"Before that we had a couple of good shouts for a penalty but we didn't get them and that seems to have been the way this season.

"But I can't deny that we weren't as good as we have been and, as a result, we've lost the game."