Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Man City vs Man Utd: ‘It was a penalty and a red card’ - Graeme Souness
MANCHESTER UNITED defender Chris Smalling could have been sent off in Sunday’s derby against Manchester City.
Mourinho: Man United 'made mistakes' against Man City
That is according to Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness.
Manchester City took the lead after just 12 minutes of the hotly anticipated clash at the Etihad.
David Silva stroked home from close range, beating United keeper David De Gea despite his international team-mate getting a big touch on the ball.
However, replays showed moments before Silva scored, City striker Sergio Aguero appeared to be pulled down by Smalling in the box.
There’s actually a real shout for a penalty on Aguero
Referee Anthony Taylor played advantage and Souness agreed it would have been a penalty if Manchester City had not found the net.
“There’s actually a real shout for a penalty on Aguero,” he said.
“You watch Aguero here in the middle of the pitch.
“When we see it from another angle he’s actually got his hands on him Chris Smalling, he is preventing him moving forward. So for me that’s a penalty.
“When they score the goal, Kun Aguero does not go with his mates to celebrate, he runs to the referee.
“The referee, to be fair to him, is saying ‘I’ve allowed play on and you’ve scored a goal from it’.”
Smalling was not appearing to attempt to play the ball when he took Aguero down, so could have been sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity had there been a penalty.
Sky Sports presenter David Jones asked Souness if that is what he thought could have happened.
“But Smalling not making an attempt to play the ball, which means if it hadn’t been a goal then perhaps it might have been a red?” Jones asked.
“Is that what you are suggesting?”
Souness agreed and claimed Aguero going to the referee shows he wanted Manchester United man Smalling to be sent off as well.
“Yeah, there’s a shout for that,” he replied.
“And I don’t know why, he’s your mate, why’s he gone to the referee and not celebrate with his mates?
“Maybe he was making that point.”