Harry Maguire is a major injury worry after Manchester United embroiled in another furious penalty row.
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith branded the penalty decision “pathetic” after Douglas Luiz was judged to have pushed Paul Pogba before Bruno Fernandes fired United level as they staged a remarkable second half fightback.
But the game also ended on a bad note for United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who admitted he fears Maguire could be out for “weeks” after hurting his ankle following a clash with Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi.
Smith, who was still smarting after a penalty was given against Villa at Old Trafford on New Year’s Day, said: “I am fed up with talking about penalty decisions against Manchester United.
“I don't think anybody knows, everybody is confused how Raheem Sterling can go through and have four or five touches on him last night and not get a penalty, then one touch here and it is a penalty.
“It looked a pathetic decision to me, but he goes down, similar to Old Trafford and last season here.”
Smith was also angry that Ollie Watkins was sent off in the 89th minute for a second yellow card after an alleged dive even though TV replays suggested United keeper Dean Henderson made contact.
Did Watkins dive? Have your say in the comments.
Smith added: “Ollie Watkins has got sent off for a second yellow, there is no way the referee can tell me he is convinced he hasn't been touched. He didn’t even appeal. Yet we can’t appeal against the sending off because it’s two yellow cards.”
Solskjaer admitted he is worried it could be a lay-off for Maguire who hobbled off, missing his first minutes of Premier League action since he joined United in 2019.
Solskjaer added: “I don’t know we’ve got to check him it might be a few weeks it might be a couple of days who knows, hopefully he won’t be too bad but I’m not a doctor and we’ve got to check and scan him tomorrow.”
The United boss praised his team’s fightback which is the tenth time this season they have come from behind to win a game and Solskjaer insisted they want to keep Manchester City waiting before they can celebrate the title and keep the pressure on.
Solskjaer said: “It is what it is. It is very unlikely City won’t get the points they need but we just have to do our jobs the best we can. I believe in the boys and I think they believe in themselves.”
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