Manchester United defender Phil Jones “made a meal” of the challenge for which West Ham midfielder Sofiane Feghouli was controversially sent off, says Hammers boss Slaven Bilic.
West Ham played for 75 minutes with 10 men after Feghouli was shown a straight red card by referee Mike Dean.
Manchester United went on to win 2-0, their sixth straight league victory.
“It was not a red card. Feghouli’s foot was not high in the air, it was not deliberate,” said Bilic.
Bilic said England international Jones had gone in “dangerously” on Feghouli, and said West Ham will appeal against the red card.
“It was the key decision and it killed us. It put the game in a different perspective and was totally unfair for us,” he added.
“Phil made a meal of it, but you cannot blame him. Maybe he made a meal because he is the one who went dangerously and he is saving himself.”
Match of the Day pundit Martin Keown said: “It is a massive mistake from Mike Dean. It is remarkable, so early in the game too.
“I don’t know how he can be so certain of who is fouling who. Sofiane Feghouli is trying to make a tackle, it is more a foul from Phil Jones. The reaction from him gets the player sent off.”
Fellow MOTD expert Kevin Kilbane agreed: “It’s such a bad decision and the reaction from Phil Jones might have helped in getting Sofiane Feghouli sent off. Feghouli should be given a reprieve.”
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho said he did not feel sorry for West Ham after Feghouli’s dismissal at London Stadium.
“If you talk about decisions, we are the champions of bad decisions,” added Mourinho.
The game was goalless when Feghouli became the fifth player to be sent off by Dean this season.
West Ham dug deep before substitute Juan Mata gave the visitors the lead, Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubling the advantage despite being one of three players offside.
“It was a big offside for the second goal,” said Bilic. “When the players are sprinting it is hard for the referees, I am the first to say that. But the players were walking. They should spot this.”
Manchester United are one point behind fourth-placed Arsenal having played one more game than the Gunners.
West Ham, meanwhile, drop from 12th to 13th in the Premier League table.
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