MUTV pundit explains how Man Utd v Newcastle would have finished if Fabian Schar was sent off

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Manchester United were unimpressed by an awful tackle from Newcastle’s Fabian Schar which could have seriously injured Bruno Fernandes.

According to ESPN, Manchester United were unhappy with the handling of the tackle, with referee Robert Jones not even brandishing a yellow card, and felt he should have been sent off.

Manager Erik ten Hag and Bruno Fernandes visited the referee’s office after the game to seek an explanation.

Fernandes required treatment after the late, studs-up tackle. Newcastle won the game 1-0, holding onto their lead despite a late Manchester United fightback.

Manchester United heading to defeat regardless

Manchester United were quite lucky to go in goalless at half-time, with Newcastle hitting the bar and missing several opportunities, and then Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock early in the second half.

It was enough to give Newcastle all three points – but what if Fabian Schar had been sent off with 20 minutes to go?

Former Manchester United trainee Paul Woolston told MUTV’s Matchday Review that he feels Newcastle would have won the game regardless.

He said: “We’ve had our share of bad decisions go against us especially when you use freeze frames like that. I think it’s one of the worst parts of VAR.

“If that does happen [sending off] it might change the game, but looking at that performance, I still even think with 10 men Newcastle would have played the way they did.

“Harry [Maguire] was right there that first half we weren’t winning our duels. You’ve got to win your battles before you show teams what you’re made of.”

Woolston may be right, that Manchester United still would have failed to get anything out of the game even if Newcastle had been reduced to 10 men.

Newcastle would have taken off a forward and sent on another centre-back to replace Schar, and then challenged Manchester United to break them down. But the Red Devils managed only one shot on target in 90 minutes, plus the late goal which was disallowed for offside.

Manchester United performance slammed

Former Manchester United youngster Woolston was not impressed by the performance of the players, several of whom he once trained alongside at Carrington.

He said: “It’s nowhere near good enough for professional footballers. Yeah, we all have off days, but that doesn’t mean you don’t work hard. They didn’t look like they cared.

“The manager can’t wait to make subs on Wednesday if he sees people walking about not trying. Especially here (Old Trafford) the fans will take nothing. All they want is 11 players who work hard. Work hard and [give] something to be proud about with your performance.”