- Man United drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday
- Lisandro Martinez was only shown a yellow card for a two-footed challenge
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A former Premier League defender has labelled Man United defender Lisandro Martinez a coward after what he deemed to be a dangerous challenge on Daichi Kamada on Saturday.
The Red Devils were forced to settle for a point at Selhurst Park after squandering a host of golden chances.
Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes struck the woodwork within seconds of each other in the first half while Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson denied his former club with a number of eye-catching stops.
And there was an ugly moment in the second half when Martinez jumped in with a two-footed tackle on Kamada.
Luckily for both involved he only made contact with some of the ball but the nature of the challenge left many feeling he was lucky to only see a yellow.
Lisandro Martinez was only shown a yellow card for this challenge on Daichi Kamada
And former Liverpool and Aston Vila left back Stephen Warnock has given his verdict on what the Argentine was thinking.
‘It’s a coward’s tackle,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘That’s all it is. It’s a cowardly tackle to go in and try to protect yourself. I just think I don’t like it. The intent is there. I don’t understand why you would make that challenge. He’s very, very lucky.’
‘Why would you make a challenge like that? It’s so unnecessary. You’ve given the referee a decision to make. He’s given him a big, big decision to make but the fact he caught the ball rather than the player is his saving grace.
Stephen Warnock labelled the Manchester United man’s tackle a ‘coward’s challenge’
The VAR looked at the tackle but Martinez was spared as he did not make contact with Kamada
‘He’s so, so lucky that he got the ball there. Why make a tackle like that? Without a doubt if he arrived another foot forward he’s going to get sent off and he’s going to get a ban.’
‘VAR checked for a potential red card and confirmed the referee’s call of no red card, deeming this was a reckless challenge and made no contact with Kamada,’ the Premier League Match Centre posted on social media.
