GIVE HIM THE BOOT
Lukaku: he’s out of touch, he can’t score and now as TV footage emerges of this angry attack, there are calls to...
ROMELU LUKAKU is facing a three- match ban that would rule him out of the Manchester derby after he was caught on camera kicking Brighton defender Gaetan Bong in the groin.
Lukaku lashed out at Bong with his right boot, then connected with the Cameroon international with his left as they tangled at a corner moments before Manchester United’s goal at Old Trafford.
The 66th-minute incident went unnoticed as Ashley Young’s shot took a big deflection off Lewis Dunk and looped into the net, but it was captured on video and is set to land Lukaku in trouble today.
The FA are aware of the incident and will study referee Neil Swarbrick’s report before viewing more footage.
United’s £ 75million striker faces a charge of violent conduct that carries an automatic three-match ban, potentially keeping him out of tomorrow’s game at Watford, Saturday’s trip to Arsenal and the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on December 10. United desperately need to beat City to prevent them running away with the Premier League title, and losing their 12- goal top scorer would be a serious setback despite Lukaku’s recent loss of form.
Last month, Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren accused Lukaku of kicking him in the face during the goalless draw at Anfield. The FA took no action but are unlikely to be so lenient this time.
Although Jose Mourinho has talked about resting the Belgium international, who has played every minute of United’s Premier League and Champions League games this season, this is not the break he had in mind.
If Lukaku, who has scored just once in his past 10 games after claiming 11 goals in his first 10, is suspended, it will put pressure on the United boss to start Zlatan Ibrahimovic after three appearances off the bench following knee surgery.
Mourinho praised Lukaku’s commitment after he forced the corner that led to United’s winner by pursuing Brighton defender Solly March to the byline. ‘The way Romelu wins the corner for the goal, the way Romelu ends the game making tackles in the left-back position, that is the mentality I want,’ said the United boss. ‘Unfortunately, not every player is the same. So Romelu, for me, fantastic. He didn’t score. I don’t care.’
Brighton manager Chris Hughton was unhappy that assistant referee Marc Perry had pointed for the corner that led to the goal, even though replays appeared to show the ball taking the slightest touch off March on its way out of play. Goalkeeper
Matt Ryan felt that Perry was not sure of his decision.
‘The reaction from the linesman himself, he was a little bit nervous, I felt,’ said Ryan. ‘He sort of gave a home field decision.
‘There are 50-50 decisions at the end of the day that perhaps go the home side’s way.’
The nature of the goal was harsh on Brighton, who comfortably soaked up United’s pressure and created arguably the better chances. United could not be faulted for effort. What they lacked was finesse and the ability to break down Brighton, even though Mourinho once again started with Lukaku, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata, then sent on Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Perhaps the most positive thing you could say about United is that this was the kind of game they drew at home last season, and a point was the very least Brighton deserved.
‘Do I expect Man United to have more chances against us? Yes,’ said Hughton. ‘Probably you have to give us a bit of credit.’
Certainly, United lack the ability to open up teams in the way City have this season, a point raised awkwardly by Eric Cantona before this game and endorsed afterwards by Ryan.
‘City have been pretty prolific going forward,’ said the Brighton keeper. ‘They play an exciting brand and perhaps United play a more structural sort of game — more direct with a lot of big guys.
‘I don’t think they really outplayed us and cut our defence to pieces.’