Manchester United profited from a VAR check that should not have been available and a piece of Edinson Cavani cunning as they edged past Aston Villa in the FA Cup, Alan Shearer has claimed.
The underwhelming Red Devils almost saw their 1-0 lead cancelled out five minutes into the second half of the third round tie at Old Trafford when lax defending resulted in Danny Ings putting the ball in the back of the net for the visitors.
Referee Michael Oliver carried out a lengthy VAR check and consulted a pitchside monitor before appearing to decide that Jacob Ramsey had blocked off United striker Cavani in a packed penalty area as Ings converted.
Danny Ings (second from left) thought he had equalised for Aston Villa at Manchester United
The striker celebrated his goal as Villa bossed the early part of the second half at Old Trafford
Many viewers had initially suspected the goal was being scrutinised for offside as Villa players appealed to Oliver to let the goal stand.
All-time leading Premier League scorer Shearer told BBC Sport: ‘It was obviously for the foul otherwise they wouldn’t have sent Michael Oliver over to the monitor.
‘If it was offside, then they would have ruled it offside. It was clearly for the foul. I’m not 100 per cent certain that Cavani is actually getting back for the goal. He’s clever. I think he’s [Ramsey] been done.
‘[Cavani] doesn’t attempt at all to get around him. Okay, some will say he doesn’t have to. But is it a clear and obvious error? I don’t think it is. I’m not certain that Cavani is actually going to get to the ball.’
Edinson Cavani (right) told referee Michael Oliver he had been fouled before the goal went in
Oliver went to the pitchside monitor and seemed to think Jacob Ramsey had impeded Cavani
Former Newcastle talisman Alan Shearer is not impressed with the use of VAR in the FA Cup
2011 FA Cup winner Micah Richards said: ‘We don’t know if Cavani is going to get there. [Ramsey] didn’t exactly hold him.
‘He was holding his ground, he stepped to the side. Cavani ran into him and it took so long to make a decision. It was just ridiculous.’
Shearer suggested it is unfair for VAR to only be used in Premier League grounds while clubs in lower divisions, where the technology is not available, cannot offer officials the chance to review decisions.
The Newcastle legend pointed to Hull’s 3-2 defeat at home to Everton in extra time on Saturday and said: ‘We should not be using VAR in this game if we can’t use VAR in every FA Cup game, wherever that may be.
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‘I understand it’s just Premier League grounds only. We were at Hull on Saturday, where they should have had two penalties if VAR was there. They got dumped out of the cup, partly because of that.’