Ref Watch duo deliver Nilson Angulo red card verdict after Manchester United fury

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes Nilson Angulo was fortunate to avoid punishment for a challenge on Bruno Fernandes during Sunderland's 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Saturday, but insisted that VAR was right not to intervene.

Fernandes was adamant that he had been caught by Angulo's elbow after playing a pass in the 89th minute of the game, but the referee did not intervene. A brief VAR check followed but referee Stuart Attwell was not sent to the monitor. While Gallagher felt Angulo should have been shown a yellow card for reckless challenge, he did not feel it met the threshold for a red.

"I don't think it's a red card and I think that's the problem," Gallagher said on the Sky Sports Ref Watch programme.

"If it's a red card, the VAR can recommend he go across and it's easy. But because of VAR, it's all or nothing. I think it's a yellow card, I think it's unsporting behaviour and I think it's reckless. I actually think he's tried to get the top of his shoulder, he's tried to get across his chest and he's gone up. But because he's caught him with the side of his arm rather than his elbow, he hasn't caught him with his elbow, he hasn't thrown his elbow. That's why I think it's a yellow card. But the VAR has no power to go 'that's a yellow card' and that's where they're snookered in that situation, if you like."

Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd agreed with that assessment.

"He's tried to do, you can see here, he's running past him and he's just trying to nudge him with his arm onto his shoulder," Bothroyd said.

"And again, you would feel frustrated as a player as well when you feel that kind of contact, it happens all the time and players will look around and say, you know, what are you doing? But in that instance, Angulo's actually tried to do that on his arm. His elbow has brushed up on his shoulder and hit him in the face. Again, I can't give a red card for that because I don't think... He's not intentionally tried to hit him in the face with his elbow. I think it's a consequence of him trying to hit him on the arm and his elbow brushing up his shoulder going onto his face."

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Ref Watch duo deliver verdict on Brian Brobbey foul controversy

The pair were divided on Attwell's decision to award Manchester United a foul in the second half when Brian Brobbey and Luke Shaw grappled inside the penalty area to try and meet a cross from the left-hand side.

Gallagher felt Brobbey had made the initial foul, and that Attwell was correct.

"I think it's a tough call because it's already started there," he said.

"When you see the first image, Brobbey actually grabs him there and that's what pulls Luke Shaw around because Luke Shaw ends up not facing the ball. So that the argument is there: Well, he's not looking at the ball, he should be looking at the ball [but] he's engaging the player. But he's actually been dragged into that position. So I think Stuart's right there, I think, foul by Brobbey."

Bothroyd felt Brobbey was unfortunate to be penalised.

"I mean, I'm looking at that from a forward's point of view," he said.

"And I'm saying to myself, you know, Brobbey is trying to get to where the ball is going. Yes, they're both grappling but then it becomes a point where Shaw is now looking at the ball. And you'll probably say, you know, that's because Brobbey's holding him but Shaw's holding him as well. And these are the kind of situations, I mean, I'm always going to give the forward the benefit of the doubt. But I genuinely think that Shaw, if they're both being fair, Shaw is not going to beat Brobbey in a physical duel. So he has to do everything he can to stop him getting to the ball. But I think that was a wrong decision, I think Brobbey should have been given the benefit of the doubt."

Both agreed that Attwell was correct to show Matheus Cunha a yellow card for diving in the second half.

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