Sir, here is some extra salt for your wounds.
Manchester United supporters will be feeling vindicated, yet equally frustrated, after confirmation that two crucial goal decisions were called wrong, last Wednesday, in their 2-1 loss to Sheffield United.
In the first half of the Premier League encounter at Old Trafford, last Wednesday, the Blades scored a headed goal through Kean Bryan but both the referee, Peter Bankes, and VAR missed Billy Sharp’s nudge on United goalkeeper David De Gea. The goal stood.
Minutes later, down the far end of the pitch, Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale collided with Harry Maguire when trying to clear from a corner. As Ramsdale fumbled his clearance, Anthony Martial turned the loose ball home but Bankes whistled for a free out for what he perceived as a foul on the goalkeeper. VAR could not intervene on that call.
Aaron Ramsdale fumbles the ball under pressure from Harry Maguire of Manchester United at Old Trafford. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)In his Monday press briefing, ahead of a league tie with Southampton, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer raised those two big decisions to reporters.
“I don’t like to bring these up,” the Manchester United boss began, “[but] the momentum shifted for us with the Sheffield United game, of course it did.
“But I’ve got the delegate’s report from the referee and the two decisions were wrong. They’ve admitted their goal should have been disallowed and our goal should have stood.
“That’s a big, big momentum changer for us. You’re more likely to, when you go 1-0 up rather than 1-0 down, go on and win that game.
“So that’s fine margins and it has been the way this season; fine margins. You hit the post, it goes in or it goes out, sometimes you’re lucky with decisions, sometimes you’re not. We’ve got to focus on this game and I’m sure the results and performances will come.”
The win for Chris Wilder’s side was only their second of the season and cost United top spot in the league standings. They fell further behind new leaders Manchester City with an away draw against Arsenal.
Today is transfer deadline day, but Solskjaer says United will not be bringing anyone else in. Defender Teden Mengi is heading to Wayne Rooney’s Derby County, on loan, with his place in the club’s Premier League squad being taken by the experienced Phil Jones.
