MARK NOBLE had the chance to salvage West Ham a point in the 95th minute from the spot with his side 2-1 down against Manchester United.
After Martin Atkinson consulted VAR and penalised Luke Shaw for a handball, club-captain Noble was sent on by David Moyes to take the penalty.
But with his one-and-only touch of the game, the 34-year-old saw his penalty saved by David De Gea to mean United held on to win.
The decision to bring Noble on specifically to take the penalty was slammed by pundits when the full time whistle blew just seconds later.
Graeme Souness told Sky Sports: “It is a poor decision. It is the 95th minute he has not been warmed up to come on so he is stone cold.
“Whether it is the manager’s decision or Noble has asked to come on and take it, either way it is the wrong decision.
“You wouldn’t do that stone cold. It does not matter if scores every penalty he takes in training or every penalty before today.
“You don’t bring someone on who is stone cold.”
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And fellow Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane was also far from pleased, saying: “If he [Noble] has taken penalties before I don’t care.
“There must be players on the pitch who are up to speed on the game – Rice, Cresswell whoever is on the pitch. Experienced players.”
BBC presenter Gary Lineker was watching on, and he was equally as baffled by the decision.
He tweeted: “That is a decision I will never understand. Bringing on a player, even as experienced and as good a penalty taker as Noble, purely to take a penalty having not touched the ball is baffling.
“Same with England at the Euros.”
Manchester United target Declan Rice had initially picked the ball up to take the penalty before Noble was introduced.
And De Gea himself though it would be Rice who would take the penalty.
He told Sky Sports: “I saw Rice with the ball so I was expecting him to take the penalty but then I saw Noble. Last minute in the game and I make the save.
“It is a massive three points for us. It is always difficult to play here against West Ham so we are really really happy.”
And Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also had his bit to say on the incident, telling Sky Sports: “I have seen him score many penalties. That is the decision that sometimes goes for you or goes against you.
“It is always the outcomes that determine the narrative. This time it turns out not to be the right call but that is just football.”
Moyes though defended his decision, saying: “Look at his record. His record is very good. I had time to think about it.
“I think I would have been more disappointed if I hadn’t made the decision. You make them and it just didn’t quite work today.”
Said Benrahma had initially given West Ham the lead at the London Stadium in the first half with a deflected effort, before Cristiano Ronaldo equalised just moments later.
Former West Ham man Jesse Lingard made it 2-1 to the visitors late on, before the drama unfolded in stoppage time.
Referee Atkinson initially didn’t award a penalty, but changed his mind after checking the VAR monitor.
So Moyes sent on Mark Noble to take the penalty with his first touch of the game.
And it was a poor penalty, with David De Gea diving to his left to save one-handed and deny Noble the chance to be the hero.
It means Solskjaer’s side go joint-top of the Premier League table with bitter rivals Liverpool on goal difference after a hard-fought three points in the capital.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
