Dermot Gallagher gives clear opinion on Fulham penalty v United and compares Mitrovic incident with Fernandes

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Refereeing decisions were at the forefront of Manchester United’s latest win, in very different circumstances to the draw with Southampton a week earlier.

In the 0-0 draw with the Saints it felt like referee Anthony Taylor got every decision wrong, from the red card to varying penalty appeals – and he was backed by former official Dermot Gallagher.

Gallagher was quizzed by Sky Sports on Monday over the incidents in Manchester United’s 3-1 victory over Fulham.

A penalty was awarded for handball, leading to two Fulham players being sent off along with manager Marco Silva.

• READ: Manchester United’s next nine fixtures after the international break

Gallagher verdict

Dermot Gallagher said the decisions given by referee Chris Kavanagh at Old Trafford were correct.

He told Sky Sports: “Once he gives a penalty it has to be a red card. The key decision is ‘is it handball?’

“He goes to the screen and he decides its handball, he’s got to send him off, that’s a given.”

Gallagher added his own personal opinion: “I thought it was handball.”

He also praised the way the referee dealt with Aleksandar Mitrovic getting in his face to protest the decision.

“It was extremely difficult. He showed composure, confidence in himself and authority. the way he kept his cool was absolutely fantastic.”

BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Sutton had compared the Mitrovic incident to one involving Bruno Fernandes in Manchester United’s freak result against Liverpool earlier this month.

Sutton was quoted: “He (Mitrovic) should get a 10 game ban and Bruno Fernandes should have too.”

The comparison is absolutely laughable – and Gallagher refuted it by talking down any similarities between the two.

He said: “You can’t manhandle a referee. This case was much more aggressive, he’s got hold of the refereee, so aggressive and so nasty.

“I don’t condone what Fernandes did, I don’t think its wise. It’s not violent or aggressive, its petulant. He could have got a yellow card for that.”

Gallagher in both weeks has backed the officials. That’s to be expected. The difference was against Southampton they were largely wrong, while against Fulham they seemed to get everything right.