Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was asked for his reaction to Lisandro Martinez’s eyebrow-raising challenge on Adama Traore in Manchester United’s win on Sunday.
Manchester United travelled away to Fulham on the weekend and the Red Devils snatched all three Premier League points on their visit to Craven Cottage.
Ruben Amorim’s men played out an uninspiring first half against Fulham before the Red Devils made the breakthrough against Marco Silva’s side late in the second half.
Lisandro Martinez, whose performances have been placed under the spotlight this season, was the difference-maker for United in the 78th minute.
The 27-year-old United defender’s effort was aided thanks to a massive deflection from Sasa Lukic, with the ball looping over a helpless Bernd Leno.
United were unfortunate not to seal a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage after Amad Diallo netted late in injury time, only for VAR to intervene and disallow the effort.
Gallagher talks Traore and Martinez tackle
Manchester United’s 2-1 win on Sunday has moved the Red Devils to 12th place in the Premier League table after 23 matches played this season.
The Red Devils have only managed eight league wins in the 2024-25 campaign and United sit 12 points adrift from the Premier League top four.
Adama Traore came off the bench in the second half for Marco Silva’s men and the Fulham winger crossed paths with Lisandro Martinez again on the pitch.
Martinez had the last laugh over Traore in their previous meeting at the beginning of the season, with United beating Fulham 1-0 at Old Trafford last August.
The United centre-back committed to a two-footed challenge on Traore on the edge of the box and the Fulham star wiped out Martinez during the tackle.
Referee Anthony Taylor did not brandish a yellow card, but Martinez was previously booked for a similar tackle in the Crystal Palace match last September.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher did not think that the United star should be sent off for the challenge, but he did say it was a foul.
“It’s not a wise challenge, I don’t know why he does this,” he said.
“I don’t think that could have been a red because he’s come a short distance, he hasn’t caught the player – but I think it’s certainly a foul because you can’t tackle two-footed anyhow.
“It’s just the nature of how he does it.”
Amorim looks ahead for Man Utd
United will now switch their attention to the Europa League for their important match against Romanian outfit FCSB at the National Arena in Bucharest.
The Red Devils are on the verge of securing their place in the last 16 and United can punch their ticket to the knockout rounds with a win on Thursday evening.
Speaking after the Fulham match, Ruben Amorim has already taken away major positives from the result on Sunday ahead of the Europa League tie.
“The result, the feeling, the way we gave time to our team to have that bit of luck to win some games,” he told TNT Sports.
“Then let’s take the feeling and work really hard tomorrow, we need to win the next one.”
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