Cristiano Ronaldo could consider himself fortunate not to have been sent-off during the second half of Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on Monday evening at St James' Park.
That is according to former Chelsea striker Pat Nevin, who believes the Portugal international could have been dismissed for his challenge on Ryan Fraser.
Ronaldo, who has scored just one goal in his last three Premier League outings, lunged into a challenge on the Scotland international and caught him with his trailing leg, sparking anger from the Newcastle bench and the terraces.
However, Ronaldo escaped being sent for an early bath, with referee Craig Pawson brandishing a yellow card in his direction, much to the United striker's disappointment, as he stood shaking his head in disagreement with Pawson's decision.
Although he was not impressed to have earned a yellow card, Nevin believes he was lucky to have earned just that, insisting that some referees may have reached for a red card instead.
"He caught a glancing blow on Ryan Fraser but he was off his feet and missed the ball," Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live, as quoted by the Express.
"Cristiano takes enough hits himself but when your team is in trouble do not take risks like that, so he got a bit lucky.
"The referees are letting it flow a bit more and I prefer that but that was right on the edge and some referees would've gone further."
It proved to be a disappointing night for Ronaldo, with the former Real Madrid man a far cry from his usual self. He struggled to have any sort of impact on the game and offered Newcastle next to nothing to have to think about.
Furthermore, his antics at full-time, which saw him head straight down the tunnel, opposed to applauding the travelling contingent of United supporters that had made the journey, was criticised by former United captain Gary Neville.
Neville told Sky Sports : "We talk about body language. We talked about it earlier in the season when Ronaldo ran off at the end of the Everton game. He's run off again tonight.
"He ran off at Watford, when everyone knew the manager (Ole Gunnar Solskjaer) was going to get the sack. And at Norwich."
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