'For me' - Mike Dean and Peter Crouch agree on Nathan Collins yellow card in Man Utd and Brentford controversy

Manchester United were unable to build on their victory over Chelsea last weekend as they lost 3-1 at Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

Igor Thiago scored after just eight minutes as the Red Devils were undone by a long ball over the top which the Brentford man rifled into the top corner. The replay showed that Harry Maguire was late to spring the offside trap which allowed Thiago a clear run at goal.

It was 2-0 on 20 minutes as Thiago added a second after pouncing on a rebound. Benjamin Sesko scored his first goal for United to restore some balance to the contest and keep the visitors well in the game.

Bruno Fernandes saw a second-half penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher before Mathias Jensen made sure of the win for the hosts with a goal in the 95th minute as the pressure again ramped up on Ruben Amorim.

Controversy during Brentford 3-1 Man Utd

The missed penalty from Fernandes came after Bryan Mbeumo had been hauled down by Nathan Collins when through on goal. The centre-back was only given a yellow card despite appearing to deny a goal-scoring opportunity.

If a penalty is awarded when a foul is given for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, a player will be booked if they are deemed to have made a genuine attempt to win the ball. However, Collins pulled Mbeumo down from behind but despite a review from VAR, the decision to caution the player stood.

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said on Soccer Saturday that he felt it was a sending off, as he said: "For me, it is a red card."

The Premier League released a statement to explain why Collins was not shown a red card in their 3-1 victory.

“The referee’s call of penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Collins deemed to pulled Mbeumo back.” a statement from the Premier League Match Centre read.

“VAR also checked the referee’s call of yellow card to Collins - and deemed that Mbeumo wasn’t in control of the ball."

Former Premier League striker Peter Crouch agreed with Dean, saying: “I thought it was a red card - it is denying a goal scoring opportunity. Probably lucky to get away with that.

“Denying a goal scoring opportunity. That's exactly what that was.”

Ruben Amorim reacts as Nathan Collins escapes red card against Man Utd

The double jeopardy rule appears to not have been applied, with the officials ruling Mbeumo’s apparent lack of control over the ball meant it was not a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The ball was played across to Mbeumo from out wide as he looked to get on the end of it.

Amorim said about the incident: “The referee told me Bryan is not in control of the ball. I think he is not in control of the ball because he was pulled.

“But that is the decision and I do not want to focus on the referee.

“The penalty in the second half half have changed things, but we never settled down. Possession and control of the game was never there, so we lost.

“We need to work on a lot of things and my biggest concern is we did not settle down in the game, missed a lot of crosses in final third, and suffered from transitions.

“We play the game of Brentford and when you play the opponents’ game it is harder to win.”