STUPID BOY!
Van Gaal blames Mata sending-off for United defeat
LOUIS VAN GAAL criticised the ‘stupid yellow card’ that contributed to the first red card of Juan Mata’s career as Manchester United’s hopes of a top-four f i nish suffered a major setback at the Hawthorns.
Mata was booked for jumping in the way of Darren Fletcher’s quicklytaken free-kick in the 23rd minute, even though he knew it would lead to an automatic caution.
And the Spaniard was given his marching orders by referee Mike Dean less than three minutes later for bringing down Fletcher with a wild attempt to tackle his former United team-mate.
Van Gaal could not hide his frustration with Mata over the first incident — and was unhappy that the player failed to take more care to ensure he did not pick up a second booking.
‘The first was a stupid yellow card,’ said the United boss after Salomon Rondon’s goal consigned his side to defeat. ‘You know it is a yellow card in advance.
‘When you have a yellow card, you have to take care of that. The referee can always give another.
‘ The second you know you already have one, you have to take that i nto account. You damage the team.
‘The decision was the turning point in the match. It is very difficult to play 10 against 11 for 60 minutes. That is the reason why we lost this game.
‘We did not give many chances away. West Brom scored out of three chances. It’s a big disappointment.’
Despite his l ove of routine, repetition and structure, it is predictability that van Gaal’s Manchester United lack and that is probably what will get him in the end.
You never know what this United team will do next and that, for a manager, is never good news.
Here, it was recklessness that killed them. It stopped a Barclays Premier League revival in i ts tracks and pushed United back i nto the cluster of also- rans dreaming rather hopefully of a place in the top four.
United were not at their best early on. West Brom looked more dangerous but had not created much of note during an early spell of territorial dominance and United looked capable of growing into the game.
Mata changed all that with a wild swipe of his right foot. It was a decisive contribution, just as his winning goal had been at home to Watford on Wednesday. Last week, his late free-kick earned his team three points and here, essentially, he handed them back.
However, van Gaal felt aggrieved that Dean chose to book Mata for his challenge on Fletcher given his player’s previous clean record.
‘The referee has to know the person who makes the tackle and Mata never hurts an opponent,’ added the United boss.
‘You give two yellows in five minutes to the same person. You know also who is Juan Mata.’
Mata’s exit l eft United with an awful lot to do but, for a while, they remained resolute.
Eventually, however, West Brom asserted themselves with just enough authority to take the game away from their opponents.
United had actually emerged at the start of the second half to play some progressive football. Soon, however, West Brom raised themselves and their goal arrived after a spell of decent pressure.
United’s defending was not the best as a low cross from the left by substitute Sebastien Pocognoli was allowed to pass through a sea of red shirts in the penalty area in the 67th minute. Matteo Darmian was perhaps the chief culprit in that regard, but Rondon still had much to do as the ball reached him.
As it arrived at pace on the bounce, his first touch was going to be crucial but it didn’t fail him and, after he cushioned it neatly, the Venezuelan drove his shot low to David de Gea’s left to give West Brom a l ead that they probably just about deserved.
A United comeback did not arrive as the game ended without Ben Foster having made a save.