Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes escaped a suspension after his red card against Tottenham – but the damage was done.
A week ago there was huge debate amid the fallout from Bruno Fernandes’ red card against Tottenham.
Manchester United lost the game 3-0, conceding twice after Fernandes was sent off.
United had been playing poorly and the prevailing consensus was that Fernandes’ red card did not ultimately influence the end result, a Manchester United defeat.
Events at the weekend have offered an alternate view, which should only make Manchester United even more annoyed.
Tottenham crumble
Tottenham Hotspur were 2-0 up against Brighton at the weekend. They then capitulated to lose the game 3-2.
Opta reports this was the 10th Premier League game Tottenham have lost are leading by more than two goals, more than any other club.
The defeat exposed a soft centre in Ange Postecoglou’s side, which Manchester United did not manage to expose.
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United did have a period in the second half against Spurs where the Red Devils put Spurs under a little pressure, yet lacked the quality to do it. Bruno Fernandes could have helped.
Playing with 10-men for 45 minutes was a difficult task for a side which had been the poorer team with 11 – but Tottenham’s collapse against Brighton suggests, you never know.
If United had managed to get an equaliser against Tottenham, the way they played against Brighton suggests that Erik ten Hag’s side could have gone onto win it.
Perhaps not – but United will feel aggrieved not to have had the chance, when the decision to send Fernandes off was proven wrong.
Fernandes red overturned
Bruno Fernandes’ red card was overturned after an appeal. It has meant Fernandes avoided a three-match suspension.
While that helped, and almost paid off when Fernandes’ free-kick hit the bar against Villa, it really did not help against Tottenham.
Darren Fletcher was said to be fuming behind the scenes at Old Trafford when Fernandes was dismissed, representing the anger among the senior management at the club, and with good reason.
While Erik ten Hag’s side performed desperately poorly in the first half against Spurs, United were right to be annoyed at not having the chance to put it right in the second half, with a full team of players.