Diogo Dalot’s defending was slammed as ’embarrassing’ despite Manchester United’s much-needed comeback win in the Premier League against Brentford.
United boss Erik ten Hag faced huge scrutiny before the international break and it looked as though he would be under even greater pressure as Brentford took the lead at Old Trafford on the stroke of half-time.
It was an unconvincing opening 45 minutes from the Red Devils and they fell behind to Ethan Pinnock’s powerful header from Mikkel Damsgaard’s corner kick.
Portugal defender Dalot picked up Pinnock but criminally let the Brentford star get away from him and paid the price.
Manchester United felt aggrieved by the first-half opener as defender Matthijs de Ligt was off the pitch receiving treatment for a bloodied head.
It was the third time De Ligt was patched up by United’s medical team following a head injury sustained earlier in the game.
‘They’re moaning at the referees but at the end of the day, the doctors have to do their job,’ ex-Rangers and Celtic striker Kris Boyd said on Sky Sports.
‘Take him off if he needs to be taken off and bring [Victor] Lindelof on, he was warming up for ages.
‘This was the third time he’s been off the pitch so whatever they’ve been trying to do, it hasn’t worked.
‘They can have a go at the officials all they want but they need to look after themselves and do the job on the pitch.
‘It’s Dalot who drops Pinnock, he just gets away from him. If you’re Erik ten Hag and you’re looking at that, it’s embarrassing.
‘There’s one bit of movement to get away from Dalot and he has absolutely no idea where he is. Dalot’s looking around and blaming everybody else but Brentford don’t care.’
Chris Sutton also had little sympathy for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, who received a yellow card for his passionate complaints to the fourth official.
‘Ruud van Nistelrooy and Erik ten Hag having a word with the fourth official,’ he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘United can moan as much as they like. It’s a head injury and De Ligt is right to go off. It’s been a pretty average performance from United so far, everybody expects more.’
Former Everton star Leon Osman added: ‘I don’t think Manchester United have a point here.
‘That is the third occasion that Matthijs de Ligt has had to go off because of this cut to his head. Two previous times they have failed to secure the wound, whether that be to stitch it or put a substitution on.
‘We had been asking for five or ten minutes before the goal, “how is he still on the pitch?” The blood is pouring down his face so the referee has to send him off the pitch.
‘On top of that the marking from Dalot is poor.’
Things looked bleak for Ten Hag at half-time but his Manchester United team responded after the break, scoring an immediate equaliser through Alejandro Garnacho, who volleyed home Marcus Rashford’s inviting cross.
Rasmus Hojlund then opened his account for the Premier League season with what turned out to be the winner on the hour mark.
The victory sends Manchester United into the top-half of the Premier League table, above 12th-placed Brentford.
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