Bruno Fernandes issues verdict on Forshaw challenge before Leeds goal

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Bruno Fernandes has suggested to Manchester United’s official website that he believes that he was fouled by Adam Forshaw in the build-up to Leeds United’s second goal at Elland Road on Sunday.

Leeds threatened to produce an incredible comeback after going into half-time 2-0 down. Rodrigo got one back before Raphinha equalised shortly after.

The Brazilian’s goal was immediately sent to VAR. There was a suspicion that Forshaw may have fouled Fernandes to win possession back just outside the penalty area.

The Portuguese stayed down and certainly gave off the impression that he had been caught. So it was no surprise that it was checked.

However, replays appeared to show Forshaw make little contact with the Manchester United star. The Leeds man definitely arrived at some speed. But it undoubtedly looked to be the right call when Paul Tierney was told to give the goal.

Nevertheless, Fernandes has suggested that he still felt that he was fouled.

“I think it was a foul because when I passed the ball he stamped on my foot,” he told Manchester United’s official website. “[But] I don’t see if he touches the ball when I did the pass.

“It’s English football so I have to get used to it.”

Bruno Fernandes could have expected a lot of criticism had Leeds gone on to win

Ultimately, Manchester United struck back. They went on to win fairly comfortably. Leeds seemed to run out of steam.

There was a moment however, when the door was open for the Whites. Elland Road was rocking. And there was a belief that Leeds would score the game’s fifth goal. They so nearly did.

Had the home side won, Fernandes would have faced a lot more criticism. The way he stayed down was bizarre given where he lost possession.

Replays showed that there was little contact between the two players. Certainly, there appeared to be nowhere near enough to leave Fernandes rolling around. And he went on to play the rest of the game.

So opting to stay down at a time when Leeds were in such a dangerous area was baffling. He gambled – unsuccessfully – on the referee or VAR deciding he was fouled.