Jamie Carragher, Alan Shearer and Howard Webb divided over Mike Dean's THREE penalty calls during Newcastle draw with Manchester United

Referee Mike Dean was forced to make at least THREE contentious penalty decisions during Newcastle's pulsating 3-3 draw with Manchester United, although his calls divided opinion.

United took the lead through a Wayne Rooney penalty after only 10 minutes when Chancel Mbemba was deemed to have handled Marouane Fellaini's header in arguably the most controversial decision of the evening - with some of the game's most recognised pundits taking contrasting views of the incident.

Making his co-commentator debut, the BBC's Alan Shearer remarked: 'My initial reaction was that was no way was that a penalty. It seemed like Marouane Fellaini hit it on to Chancel Mbemba.  

Manchester United were awarded an early penalty after Chancel Mbemba handled Marouane Fellaini's header

Alan Shearer did not think it was a penalty but rival pundit Jamie Carragher was '100%' certain it was

Former World Cup referee Howard Webb claimed a penalty because Mbemba's arm is in an unnatural position

Referee Mike Dean (right) had to make at least three big penalty decisions during the 3-3 draw

Rio Ferdinand shared an Instagram picture of pundits discussing the controversial penalty

'I didn't think that was a penalty at all, but clever from Wayne Rooney - he put the one at the weekend to the goalkeeper's right but put it to the left this time.' 

Sportsmail columnist and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher took to Twitter to offer an opposing opinion: '100% a penalty. The defender wasn’t jumping, he knew the ball had gone over his head & had his arm up which stopped MF’s header. 

'Can we stop talking about deliberate handball! 99% of penalties given for handball aren’t deliberate!!'

Retired World Cup final referee Howard Webb agreed with Carragher during his half-time analysis for BT Sport, claiming Mbemba's arm was not in a 'natural' position.

'Dean is in a great position with a good view. He can clearly see the arm is extended away from the body and that's the reason he's given it - he feels the arm has blocked the header by Fellaini. The arm is not seen, as far as Dean is concerned, in a natural position.

'I can support Dean on that one. I can totally see why, from the angle he's got, he can see the arm away from the body blocking the header. Even if Mbemba doesn't mean to, the action is not natural and, therefor, for me I can support his decision,' he added.

Jesse Lingard (2nd left) was fortunate not to concede a penalty after brining down Daryl Janmaat

The Dutch defender is clipped by Lingard while surging into United's penalty area in the first half

The Newcastle defender looks distraught after his penalty appeal was waved away by Mike Dean

United manager Louis van Gaal unsurprisingly agreed with Webb: 'When you want to avoid a header of Fellaini by your hands to ball I don’t think it’s ball to hand, it’s hand to ball.

'I don’t think it’s a discussion. You don’t know – you can always have a discussion in this world. We will see! We were unlucky. When you see the penalty, the second goal, the third goal – it’s also deflected,' he said.

More controversy followed, however, when Jesse Lingard appeared to upend Daryl Janmaat at the opposite end of the pitch only for Dean to wave away Newcastle protests - a decision that Webb did not agree with after reviewing video evidence.

'Newcastle should have had a penalty. It was a clumsy tackle by Lingard. I think Dean expects Lingard to get to the ball first but suddenly Janmaat is in front of him and Lingard jumps in and makes contact with him first.

'Maybe he makes contact with the ball just after that, maybe Schneiderlin is blocking Dean's view - we don't know. It's not as a clear a decision for me but when you see the replay it should have been a penalty for Newcastle.'

Chris Smalling (left) and Aleksander Mitrovic are involved in a wrestling match during a second half corner

Smalling concedes a penalty after hauling the Newcastle striker to the ground when the corner was taken

Mike Dean shows the England defender a yellow card before Mitrovic equalises from the spot

Lingard doubled United's lead before Georginio Wijnaldum clawed back a goal for the Magpies just before half-time, but there would be another decisive decision for Dean to make after the interval.

Dean adjudged United defender Chris Smalling of fouling Aleksander Mitrovic by hauling the Newcastle striker to the ground during a corner to allow the Serbia international to draw his side level from the spot on 77 minutes.

'Another big incident in the second half. The important thing for me is who is holding who. We see Smalling clearly wrapped his arms around Mitrovic, eventually pulling him to the floor. It's a wrestling match and looks six of one and half a dozen of the other at this stage.

'For me the important point is Smalling is the one trying to stop Mitrovic moving away. Mitrovic is trying to move into space.

'The important aspect is when does the incident take place? When the ball is struck it is only Smalling who is holding. Anyting happening before the corner is irrelevant. Smalling is the only person who is holding when the corner is taken

'It is an offence by Smalling first and it is a penalty kick,' he added.

World Cup final referee Webb counted on video evidence give his verdict on the penalties 

Paul Dummett became a local hero by scoring a last minute equaliser for the Toon side

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal blamed his team and not the referee for losing their lead

Van Gaal saw the incident differently, saying: 'I think it’s a dual, I’ve seen the video then you see Mitrovic is pushing the head of Smalling. 

'When you both do that you cannot decide which is worst, I think. But the referee is not losing our game. We are losing it by ourselves. 

Inspired captain Rooney restored United's lead with a swerving shot from distance but local defender Paul Dummett completed one of the most enthralling games of the season with a 90th minute equaliser that rubbished both claims that United are boring and Newcastle lack fighting spirit.