‘Sends the wrong message’ – Stuart Pearce accuses Erik ten Hag of ‘taking the easy way out’ with Kobbie Mainoo decision

Mainoo was replaced at half-time against Forest (Picture: Getty)

Stuart Pearce has accused Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag of ‘taking the easy way out’ after substituting Kobbie Mainoo at half-time against Nottingham Forest.

United fell to another defeat on Saturday evening, losing 2-1 to Forest at the City Ground.

18-year-old sensation Mainoo started at the base of midfield but was replaced at half-time by Scott McTominay.

Ten Hag later explained it was a tactical decision, with the midfielder also starting games against West Ham United and Aston Villa in the last week.

‘He played the third game in a row, in this week, that’s tough where he’s coming from,’ ten Hag said.

‘I thought the energy was a little bit lower than in the other two games this week, therefore we brought some new energy in.’

While United were disappointing in the first-half against Forest, their levels dropped even further in the second-half following Mainoo’s withdrawal with both Forest goals coming from players arriving on the edge of the box unmarked with McTominay nowhere to be found on both occasions.

McTominay had little impact on the game (Picture: Getty)

Former England international Pearce was among those to question the decision to replace Mainoo, believing it sent a ‘bad message’

‘Sometimes as a manager you go in at half-time and you feel you have to make a change to make an impact and get a turnaround in mentality in many ways,’ Pearce told Premier League Productions.

‘When the substitution was made and you take a young kid off who I didn’t think was doing badly for me it sends a bad message. He’s the one bright thing but it sends a message out that I’ve took the easy way out, that’s how I see it.’

Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was also critical of the decision.

‘There was no need to make that change when you have other players on the pitch that are doing absolutely nothing for you. I question the substitution and what that signals to the rest of the team.

‘Why do you want to make a change at half-time? Is that so you can make three breaks in the second half, you don’t have to make two? Is that it?

‘Or is to make an impact? If you want to make an impact you have to leave impact players on. That had a very big effect on the game.’

MORE : Erik ten Hag praises one Manchester United star after Nottingham Forest defeat

MORE : Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga says Manchester United win was personal

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The midfielder was replaced at half-time.