But referee Uriah Rennie, never normally a popular figure at St James' Park since he sent of Alan Shearer back in 1999, allowed the goal and gave a 53rd minute penalty when Luis Boa Morte blocked Milner's free-kick with his arm.West Ham boss Alan Curbishley was understandably furious about Milner's strike, as the ball passed through Parker's legs, but Newcastle didn't make as much fuss when Tottenham scored an off-side goal last week or Birmingham on Wednesday. Decisions usually even themselves out thoughout a season, some you get ... some you don't.
Curbishley: "I am so disappointed with their first goal. It changed the whole face of the game. The linesman put his flag up - he admitted he put his flag up - but because Scott did not touch it, he did not give it.
"But I do not know what Scott Parker is doing if he is not gaining an advantage.
The rule is if you are looking to gain an advantage, you are in an offside position. He was standing right in front of Roy Carroll and deliberately dummied it so it could go in the net.
"He (the referee's assistant) put his flag up and if he had kept it up, I do not think anybody in the ground would have complained.
"We have been hurt in the last two weeks. Graham Poll missed a challenge in the last minute last week which resulted in Fulham equalising, and I think the officials got that wrong. But what can you do? We cannot do anything about it."
Glenn Roeder: "That is how the rule is now. We had that against us on Wednesday night. It is very much a grey area. I do not think it is the referees' fault at all. They apply the law as they see it and as they have been told to apply the law.
"On Wednesday for the first goal, a Birmingham player was rooted on the goal-line and Shay Given could not even dive to save the ball. Perhaps now is the time for (referees chief) Keith Hackett to come out and clarify the situation."