Ole Gunnar Solskjaer criticized referee Peter Bankes for two mistakes when Manchester United were beaten 2-1 by Sheffield United.
The Manchester United boss was dissatisfied with the referee for abandoning Kean Bryan’s opening goal despite Billy Sharp’s interference with David de Gea at Old Trafford and ruling out an attempt by Anthony Martial a few minutes later.
Solskjaer told BT Sport: “It’s a foul. Billy Sharp only hits him (De Gea) so he can’t get up, so it’s a foul.”
When asked about Martial’s improper use, Solskjaer said: “Not a foul … but it’s this kind of season, inconsistencies, so it gets unpredictable. But there are two referee mistakes.”
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Solskjaer’s side had a chance to bring Manchester City back to the top but froze under pressure against Blades, who had won only once in the Premier League this season.
Aaron Ramsdale has not been over-tested in Sheffield United’s goal as Manchester United only scored four shots on goal.
“We had all the possession, but when you concede two bad goals it always becomes difficult,” said Solskjaer.
“We didn’t create enough chances to score enough goals.
“That magic was missing, that little extra. You defended well, played fairly, but we didn’t have the right ideas or solutions.
“It shouldn’t be, the second goal we conceded is so bad, so sloppy. Easy. We stopped getting to the ball, three or four bad decisions that didn’t match the character.
“There won’t be a big investigation. There have been so many strange results this season, but with the world as it is, that we were the most consistent team, it hit us today.”
Wilder: We showed our identity
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Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says his team showed his identity
The Blades only had five points to show in their first 19 games – the worst performance in Premier League history – and hadn’t beaten the Red Devils since 1993 since their previous Old Trafford win came in 1973.
And although Chris Wilder’s men named only six substitutes and had to rely on the 38-year-old Phil Jagielka in the central defender, who then performed a performance from the man of the game, they scored three well-deserved points.
“We have to play near perfect to get results. If you make mistakes you will be punished,” said Wilder.
“It’s a brutal league and you have to be at your best every week. And sometimes it’s difficult to do that. Tonight we were good, we were brave with possession when we had to and we have a few small half-chances You have to take these great moments and we have taken two to give each other a result.
“A slight distraction for the second goal, but we all need a ball bounce. We kept going, we have an identity and we showed it tonight. We had a little break, took it and made it to see the game out. “
