By ADRIAN BISHOP
Published: 13:06 EST, 15 December 2024 | Updated: 13:17 EST, 15 December 2024
Gary Neville and Mike Dean disagreed as Man United were denied a penalty in the Manchester derby.
After Josko Gvardiol headed the hosts in front during a scrappy first half at the Etihad, Ruben Amorim's side returned from the interval in search of an equaliser against their fierce rivals.
Chances proved largely hard to come by for United by they appeared to have a golden opportunity to equalise when Rasmus Hojlund was brought down by Ruben Dias just after the hour mark.
Hojlund had found his way into the box before being brought down by Dias, when the Portuguese's left leg appeared to trip him over.
The United players immediately appealed to referee Anthony Taylor, but he waved away their protests and awarded a goal kick to the hosts to the dismay of the travelling fans.
A subsequent VAR check agreed with the on-field official's decision, leaving Neville confounded on commentary.
'It's clumsy. Just a bit of a coming together as they both try to fall,' Neville said. 'He seemed to step across the Man United striker.'
However, after reviewing a replay of the incident, the United legend claimed his former side were unfortunate not to have been awarded a spot kick.
His view was not shared by former Premier League official Mike Dean, who insisted the referee's initial call had been the right one.
'His left leg's come across but it's more clumsy that anything,' Dean said.
'I don't think that's enough [to warrant a penalty], not in a game like this.'