Martin Keown’s decision to award Diogo Dalot the Man of the Match award from Manchester United’s 3-1 win at Brentford has been picked apart by fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand.
After a woeful first half, Ralf Rangnick’s side produced a much-improved second-half display to catapult them towards a critical victory in London. Anthony Elanga was the catalyst for the victory with his pressure-releasing goal a truly memorable one.
Mason Greenwood finished off a superb move involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes to double the lead.
Rangnick then shuffled his pack and protected his assets when substituting Greenwood and Ronaldo – much to the Portuguese’s disbelief.
Nonetheless, substitute Marcus Rashford quickly justified the decision when scoring a confidence-boosting third. A late consolation from Ivan Toney did not dampen United’s mood.
With the game in its final stages, co-commentator Keown opted to name right-back Dalot as his Man of the Match.
And while he played well, Ferdinand – in the BT Sport studio – was left flabbergasted – by Keown’s choice.
As such, Ferdinand claims United midfielder Scott McTominay ‘was head and shoulders above everybody’ on the pitch.
“Martin [Keown] on commentary was the person who gave Dalot man of the match, I couldn’t believe it,’ Ferdinand said, as cited by Metro, after the game.
“McTominay was head and shoulders above everybody. I text him [Martin] saying, ‘what’s going on?’.”
Rio Ferdinand talks up McTominay after Man Utd win
As for McTominay, Rio Ferdinand admits he’s a big fan of the player and recalls a chance meeting with him recently.
“I saw him in a restaurant last week and just spoke to him briefly about working hard and playing hard and that’s all you hear about him.
“He’s an honest kid, he wants to do well and improve.
“You saw in his game today where his intensity and desire, you could see it from the first minute.
“At Manchester United, you need a certain amount of ability but personality. But it’s character what gets you through and enables you to stay at this club for a long time.
“He’s shown that in a time of need when this club has been shaky at the best of times.”
Rangnick praises midfielder’s display
Interim boss Rangnick – as well as getting in a muddle over Elanga – also had some words of praise for McTominay after.
“In the first half we were second best in all aspects of the game. In the second half Scott was exemplary, a real leader, he played with authority when we needed it most.
“That had a positively contagious effect on all the players in the centre of the pitch. By winning those duels in the second half we had our counter-attacking moments.
“We knew we could play with speed and tempo at their goal, make their back three drop back and play in one-vs-one sprinting duels.”
READ MORE: Rangnick to cause uproar by selling summer signing to fund huge double raid
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