Erik ten Hag was not a happy man after Manchester United were beaten at Brighton (Picture: Getty Images)
Manchester United manager was left angry with officials after a 1-0 loss to Brighton, not because of a last-minute penalty decision, but for a free-kick just beforehand.
Alexis Mac Allister scored in the 99th minute to give the Seagulls victory at the Amex, meaning Brighton have now beaten United in three straight Premier League games.
It was clearly a handball from Luke Shaw which gave away the penalty which the Argentine slotted home, but Ten Hag was not happy about the call just beforehand.
Shaw was adjudged to have fouled Julio Enciso, which saw a free-kick lead to a corner, which led to the handball, and the Dutchman was not impressed with the decision.
‘It was a bit unlucky because it was never a free-kick before the corner,’ Ten Hag told Sky Sports.
‘It is handball, maybe he is out of balance because of a push from the back, but I can’t see. More is my anger is about the free-kick before because it was never a free-kick.
‘So many bad tackles tonight were not resulted [in fouls], but from that…it’s nothing, a fair block and that’s a whistle.’
The match threatened to boil over in the second half as a number of United players became frustrated with the officials, which Ten Hag could sympathise with.
‘There were some really bad fouls,’ he said. ‘It was so obvious and clear. I don’t agree with the reactions from my players, but it’s also difficult to stay in control because it was so clear.’
Ten Hag was asked if he had spoken to the officials, and while he said he had, he also admitted that his team’s failure to take chances, and Shaw’s late error, really cost them.
‘We had a talk, but it’s not about them,’ he said of the officials. ‘We have to finish the chances, be more clinical and don’t make such mistakes as we did in the last seconds.
Luke Shaw handled the ball in the penalty area late on (Picture: Getty Images)
‘We had the chances to score, it’s clear, Antony dos Santos, Antony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, all great opportunities. One has to be in.
‘It’s about keeping focus and don’t lose the focus in the dying seconds of the game, we take that point. In the end, if you can’t win it by not taking your chances then don’t lose.’
MORE : Luke Shaw accepts penalty blame but points finger at team-mates after Brighton defeat
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‘It was so obvious and clear.’