Man Utd avoid unwanted VAR blunder double

Manchester United's victory over Sunderland on Saturday has brought Ruben Amorim some much-needed breathing space amid huge pressure on his job.

The fact he even got to that game following the shocking defeat at Brentford a week earlier was a minor victory, especially as it has been revealed referee's chief Howard Webb had been in touch to tell United Nathan Collins should have been sent off for dragging Bryan Mbeumo back at the Gtech Community Stadium.

United did get a second-half penalty - which was saved - but should have also been playing against 10 men, as Webb acknowledged. Head coach Ruben Amorim was told at the time Collins had stayed on the pitch because Mbeumo did not have control of the ball. Amorim said this was impossible as Collins was preventing Mbeumo from reaching it.

The incident had echoes of the injury-time penalty that condemned United to defeat at West Ham last season that ended up costing Erik ten Hag his job.

Webb said afterwards the spotkick should not have been given for a collision between Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings.