UK: 18+ USA: 21+ | Begambleaware.org | T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly
Luke Shaw believes Manchester United paid the price for their poor finishing in their last-gasp Premier League defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Thursday night.
Alexis Mac Allister struck a penalty into the top corner in the 99th minute to settle the game 1-0 in favor of the the hosts. The spot-kick came after center-back Shaw handballed while under pressure from a corner.
United mustered five shots on target against the Seagulls, but couldn’t find a way past Jason Steele. The Brighton keeper saved at his near post from Marcus Rashford and kept out an effort from Anthony Martial in the first half as United failed to score for the third time in their past three games in all competitions.
Shaw: ‘The Problem Is We Don’t Score’
“I know the problem, we know the problem: the problem is we don’t score,” Shaw told Sky Sports after the defeat
“In the first half we had three or four big chances that we should be scoring,” he said, “I think that’s happened a lot of times this season.”
“But then again it comes down to my mistake at the end, but the chances we had we have to be scoring these goals,” Shaw explained, “The game is completely different if we score early on with the chances we do make.”
“Just not clinical enough. I don’t really know what else to say to that. It’s disappointing I lost us a point at the end, but if you look at the first-half we could have been 3-0 up.”
United had the superior opportunities in the first half, but could have easily fallen behind 1-0 when Kaoru Mitoma blasted a shot at David de Gea even though a straightforward square pass could have set up Solly March for an easy tap-in.
Prior to Shaw’s error, the United goalkeeper had to deflect Mac Allister’s long-range strike around the post in the second half. The England international, who was once again playing at center-back, was penalized after VAR identified his handball.
Shaw: It Was ‘Never A Foul’
“It hurts a lot. Last minute. Last action, I think I got a little nudge but the hand shouldn’t be there,” he admitted. “I own up to it, take it on the chin, it cost us the game. It’s tough. I can’t even explain why my arm’s up there. I said I got a nudge, maybe that helped my arm go up, but still it shouldn’t be there.
“Even before the corner, the free-kick that was given away before that was never a foul. I’m not looking for excuses for what I’ve done, but there’s no way that should have been a foul that led to the corner.
“Maybe that corner should never have happened. But I can’t change that. I’m not accusing the ref of anything, but for me it wasn’t a foul before, but hands up, silly mistake that cost us a point.”
Man United now must get back on track if they are to secure a Champions League place ahead of next season, with Liverpool hot on their heels.
The side face the relegation threatened West Ham on Sunday in what is unlikely to be an easy fixture at the London Stadium.
Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!
