Dermot Gallagher has made his position clear on whether or not Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez should have been sent off for his challenge on Cole Palmer.
Manchester United had to settle for a point on Sunday in their Premier League encounter with Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock in the second half and fired United into a 1-0 lead under interim Red Devils manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
However, Moises Caicedo wasted no time pulling Chelsea back into the contest with a sensational equaliser and the Blues and United played out a 1-1 draw.
United were fortunate to see the match out with 11 men after Lisandro Martinez’s risky challenge, with even VAR checking for a potential red card.
Martinez caught Chelsea star Cole Palmer with a knee-high challenge and referee Robert Jones brandished a yellow card to the United defender.
VAR reviewed the incident and the 26-year-old Argentine centre-back was avoided a potential red card, despite connecting with Palmer in the tackle.
Gallagher on Martinez and escaping red card
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher dropped his two cents on the incident involving Lisandro Martinez and Cole Palmer.
The former Premier League referee insisted that Martinez was “lucky” to be in the position that he was in when he initially committed his foul in the 1-1 draw.
Gallagher added that only “fleeting contact” was made in the challenge and Martinez avoided a red card from Robert Jones because of how close he was for the tackle.
“I think he’s lucky his start position is so close to Palmer because if he makes that challenge when he comes in from distance and gathers speed and intensity, that’s when he’d really be in trouble,” he said.
“The fact he is so close to him means he doesn’t generate that force. It is fleeting contact.”
Gallagher on Man Utd penalty incident
Gallagher was also asked to review another incident from the 1-1 draw, with Robert Sanchez catching Rasmus Hojlund inside the box in the second half.
Robert Sanchez brought the onrushing Rasmus Hojlund down and United were awarded a penalty, with Bruno Fernandes converting from the spot-kick.
Gallagher insisted that he felt it was a penalty at the time and would stick with his decision after claiming Sanchez failed to catch any of the ball in the challenge.
“I thought penalty at the time and I still think so. He doesn’t get any of the ball and he catches his ankle,” he said.
“It’s not too dissimilar to Ederson on Anthony Gordon recently, which I also thought was a penalty.
“He doesn’t get the ball. When you see it in slow motion, everything looks distorted, but I think it’s a foul.
“He’s challenged with his arms, he’s not taken the ball, he’s caught him on the ankle. The referee awards a penalty and I don’t think VAR would ever overrule it.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
