Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has claimed Manchester United should have been awarded a foul on Bruno Fernandes in the lead-up to Southampton's opening goal.
United took the lead after Southampton defender Jack Stephens stepped into Fernandes from behind before stealing the ball from the Portuguese midfielder.
Stephens then made a quick pass forward to Moussa Djenepo with referee Craig Pawson allowing the game to continue despite Fernandes remaining stricken on the floor.
A few seconds later, Djenepo's pass fell to Che Adams who fired a shot that was deflected by Fred beyond David De Gea into the United goal.
Despite United protests, the incident was not called back by VAR, in accordance with a new rule change this season which is aimed to be more lenient this season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in disbelief in the aftermath of the game and used an analogy to criticise Pawson's decision.
“We can’t go from one extreme, from volleyball or basketball last year, to rugby," he fumed.
"I like the more lenient way — it’s more men’s football but that is a foul. It’s a clear foul, he goes straight through Bruno. We did suffer a few tackles, and that was part of their thinking early on it looked like.”
Former Premier League referee Hackett rallied behind in support of Solskjaer in his column in the Daily Telegraph claiming the United boss and players were right to feel aggrieved.
"Solskjaer had justification for feeling aggrieved," Hackett wrote.
"There was a clear foul on Bruno Fernandes in the build-up to the Southampton goal."
However, Hackett has stated that the decision was simply an error on Pawson's behalf and was not representative of the news laws that have been introduced this season.
"Referee Craig Pawson should have awarded a free-kick. It was an outrageous call, but had nothing to do with lighter-touch officiating."
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