Evra launches scathing attack on Man Utd after horror first half vs West Ham before controversial goal saved their skin
PATRICE EVRA launched a scathing attack on Manchester United at half-time of their game at West Ham on Saturday night.
The Red Devils trailed 1-0 at the break at London Stadium after Tomas Soucek put the home side ahead – and it could have been more.
Pablo Fornals had hit the post and also missed the target with a close range header.
Sebastien Haller fluffed a chance which was later shown to be offside and Jarrod Bowen also stung Dean Henderson’s palms.
United were outplayed all over the pitch in the first 45 and Evra was furious.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team came back in the second-half to win 3-1 but they were helped on their way by Paul Pogba’s goal which should have been ruled out because the ball was out of play in the build up.
Evra – who also had an uninspiring spell at West Ham – fumed on Sky Sports: “Same old story.
“Declan Rice is bullying Donny van de Beek. Bowen is terrorising our defence.
“Sloppy passing, no tempo. Maybe they’re going to win in the second half but this is not United.
“I was praying for the referee to blow the whistle for half time.
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“West Ham were putting Manchester United under pressure. They will have a comeback but if you keep reacting sometimes it is going to be too late.”
United eventually bailed themselves out of trouble but Pogba’s goal should have been ruled out after Henderson’s ball clearly went out for a throw in.
The clearance curled out of play before eventually finding Bruno Fernandes, who teed up Pogba.
In Sky Sports’ broadcast, Gary Neville admitted he didn’t ‘have a clue’ whether it had crossed the touchline or not and replays showed the linesman was not even looking at the ball as it veered out of play.
But West Ham manager David Moyes certainly was, calling it a ‘poor decision’ after the match.
Fans inside the ground were shown a sign which read: “VAR checking goal, possible ball out of play.”
But somehow officials made another huge gaffe and the goal stood.
Match of the Day technology later revealed that the ball had gone out of play – by a clear margin.
Pundit Danny Murphy said: “You can see there Gary (Lineker), the linesman wasn’t actually looking up at the ball.”
Moyes, 57, said: “I had the best view in the house. The ball went over my head and I applauded my player for charging down their goalkeeper.
“The linesman is claiming he didn’t see it. It was a poor decision.
“The ball was out of play, the players’ reaction gives the best way to look at it and all our players knew it was out of play as well.
“The linesman seemed to be checking for an offside but his first job was to check the flight of the ball.
“I can only tell you what I saw and if I thought it had stayed on the pitch I would say that too.”
Mason Greenwood gave United the lead just three minutes later.
And Marcus Rashford’s delicate finished completed the turnaround in the 78th minute.
The comeback took the Red Devils back into the top four, while West Ham remain seventh.
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