Harry Maguire endured a difficult start at Nottingham Forest, surviving a scare for a penalty that Steve Cooper believes should’ve been awarded.
The central defender was named in the Manchester United side at the City Ground following the injury suffered by Lisandro Martinez this week.
However, the 30-year-old endured a torrid start to the game, being booked just three minutes into the contest.
Maguire found himself spun by Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi, getting on the wrong side of the defender who appeared to be through on goal, but the defender hauled him down.
Due to the rather blatant nature of the challenge, Maguire picked up a yellow card and was then on the receiving end of stick from the Forest supporters who humorously called him a ‘Leicester reject’.
Maguire shone for Forest’s midlands rivals, Leicester, between 2017 and 2019 after joining from Hull City.
In that time he made 76 appearances for the Foxes before moving to Man United in a deal worth an estimated £80million.
He’s since made 170 appearances for the Red Devils and taken his tally of England caps to 55, playing a key role in the Three Lions’ journey to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the final of the European Championship in 2021.
Maguire’s afternoon almost got even worse after he appeared to handle the ball in the penalty area, leading to calls for a spot-kick.
However, the England defender breathed a sigh of relief as he escaped unpunished, despite a VAR check.
On the incident, Forest boss Cooper said: “I think it is [a penalty], I don’t think it’s debatable either.
“I half understand the referee not seeing it because of the angle and the bodies around, although he should at this level; a Premier League referee.
“But how VAR have not seen it is difficult to take, really.
“I’m not going to talk here and say that’s why we haven’t won today, we’ve still scored the second penalty and it could even have been a second yellow card for Harry Maguire so it could’ve been a game changer.
“I don’t think referees at this level can make mistakes like that and the same with the VAR as well.”
A reprieve for Maguire but Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag praised the centre-back for his resolve despite the tough start in a match Man United went on to win 2-0.
Ten Hag said: “It was not easy for Harry Maguire but he dealt with it [yellow card] very well.
“I believe we are the team with the most clean sheets in the Premier League (14) so we know if we defend as a team, we’re focused and we bring a solid performance we are good at it.”
