Michael Owen believes Manchester United hugely benefitted from Bruno Fernandes ‘being somewhat bit naughty’ during their 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on Monday night.
Fernandes pulled United level with an excellent free-kick within the 77th minute at Old Trafford, nevertheless, Bournemouth were aggrieved as Adam Smith was punished for handball when the ball was fired at him from close range and hit him on the upper arm.
When asked in regards to the handball decision after his side’s draw, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said: ‘I believe it’s a transparent mistake. Above the armband. It’s not a foul.’
Owen, nevertheless, feels United were only awarded the choice because of strong protests from a ‘streetwise’ Fernandes towards referee Simon Hooper.
Speaking about Fernandes’ free-kick with Premier League Productions, Owen said: ‘The pace, dip, every little thing, it was a superb free-kick – nevertheless it should never have been one.
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‘It was a foot away from him, even when it hits him down low, if you kick it into someone if you’re only a yard away then it’s very harsh, his arms weren’t flailing and it was too high anyway. It was a extremely poor decision.
‘Little things make a lot difference. People don’t wish to see people exaggerating a fall or claiming a free-kick when it isn’t… if Bruno Fernandes doesn’t really go mad when that ball hits he never gets it.
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‘The referee thinks, ‘oh, I didn’t see it properly, I’ll give it’, due to response of the player, it’s human response.
‘These little things make a large difference. If Bruno doesn’t try this, if he’s not living on the sting and being somewhat bit naughty, then they don’t get that [free-kick] and so they don’t rating that goal.
‘These little, I used to be going to say dark arts nevertheless it’s a bit strong… he was streetwise, let’s say, in winning that free-kick.’
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