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.<\/p>\n
West Ham played for 75 minutes with 10 men after Feghouli was shown a straight red card by referee Mike Dean.<\/p>\n
Manchester United went on to win 2-0, their sixth straight league victory.<\/p>\n
“It was not a red card. Feghouli’s foot was not high in the air, it was not deliberate,” said Bilic.<\/p>\n
Bilic said England international Jones had gone in “dangerously” on Feghouli, and said West Ham will appeal against the red card.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho said he did not feel sorry for West Ham after Feghouli’s dismissal at London Stadium.<\/p>\n
“If you talk about decisions, we are the champions of bad decisions,” added Mourinho.<\/p>\n
The game was goalless when Feghouli became the fifth player to be sent off by Dean this season.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Manchester United are one point behind fourth-placed Arsenal having played one more game than the Gunners.<\/p>\n
West Ham, meanwhile, drop from 12th to 13th in the Premier League table.<\/p>\n
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