Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick criticised referee Paul Tierney after Lisandro Martinez was sent off in Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds United at Old Trafford.
United were already trailing to Noah Okafor’s first-half brace when Martinez was dismissed in the 56th minute for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin after Tierney reviewed the incident on the pitch-side monitor.
“I thought the boys, the way they went about it, they stayed positive and fought to get something out of it after another shocking decision to send off Lisandro,” Carrick said.
“Two games in a row we’ve had decisions like that go against us but this one was one of the worst I’ve seen.”
Carrick argued Calvert-Lewin’s earlier contact contributed to the incident. He said, “You can throw your arm in Martinez’s face and then as he’s off balance because of that, he’s half grappling, he half touches the back of his hair which pulls the bobble to come out.
“I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive. He touches it and he gets sent off.
“Worst of all, he gets sent to overturn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking.”
The United boss also complained about the build-up to Leeds’ opener. He said, “We obviously conceded when Leny Yoro gets a forearm smash in the back of the head and they score the first goal. They didn’t decide to overturn that decision. That was a big moment in the game.”
Okafor put Leeds ahead early after defensive hesitation before adding a deflected second in the 29th minute as United struggled without suspended defender Harry Maguire.
Despite being reduced to ten men, United pulled one back in the 69th minute when Casemiro headed in Bruno Fernandes’ cross, Fernandes’ 17th league assist of the season. Leeds held on through late pressure to secure their first league win at Old Trafford in 45 years and their first top-flight victory in the fixture since 2002.
The result lifted Daniel Farke’s side six points clear of the relegation zone with six games remaining. Martinez could face a three-match ban, with Carrick confirming the club will discuss a possible appeal.
United remain third in the Premier League, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea, and travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday in a key match in the race for Champions League qualification.
“This is one game. We’ll certainly look at it and look to improve. We’ve got another big game, an important game next week and a big end to the season,” Carrick said.
