Paul Scholes and Michael Owen weigh in on Bruno Fernandes' sending off in Manchester United's loss to Tottenham

Paul Scholes and Michael Owen have offered their thoughts on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes receiving a red card against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, September 29. The Red Devils lost 3-0 at Old Trafford on the night.

The hosts had an awful start to their Premier League clash, conceding within the first three minutes courtesy of Brennan Johnson's strike. Manchester United were overwhelmed for most of the first period as Tottenham continually looked for their second. Towards the end of the first half, Bruno Fernandes made an attempt to win the ball from James Maddison.

However, the Portuguese midfielder slipped and raised his boot against Maddison's shin. Referee Chris Kavanagh decided to show him a straight red card.

Michael Owen believes Fernandes was rather unlucky to be sent off for the challenge. He said on Premier League Productions after the game (via TBR Football):

“I thought he was unlucky. don’t think it was a red. I thought he slipped. I thought he did catch him slightly, but I didn’t think it was with any force. It was on the shin pad. He has tried to flick him and bring him down. But there is no force. It isn’t a dangerous challenge. He slips and just flicks his leg out. It doesn’t hurt. It flicks him on the shin pad. It isn’t even that high. A yellow card.”

Scholes then said:

“He shouldn’t give him a chance, should he? I know he has slipped – it’s not a red card. We know it isn’t. But why give the referee an opportunity to do it? It’s petulant again from the captain, who is probably as bad as any of them in the first half.”

Spurs went on to score two more goals in the second half through Dejan Kulusevski (47') and Dominic Solanke (77').

Meanwhile, Manchester United will next face Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, October 3.

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Former Premier League referee offers thoughts on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes' red card against Tottenham

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett agreed with Michael Owen's assessment of Bruno Fernandes' sending-off against Tottenham. He believes the Portuguese midfielder should've merely been booked instead of receiving a red.

After Chris Kavanagh displayed the red card, VAR did not intervene in agreement with the referee's decision. However, Hackett believes the match official could've made a better decision by being asked to look at the monitor and review the incident.

He wrote in his column for The Telegraph (via GiveMeSport):

"I can see why the referee may have decided this was worthy of a red card, as Fernandes looked to challenge James Maddison with Tottenham on the breakaway. However, after multiple viewings, I lean towards a yellow card."

"I feel the referee Chris Kavanagh would have benefitted from being asked to look at the incident again on the pitch side monitor."

Manchester United are now 12th in the league table after the Tottenham defeat, sitting six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. They have won two of their six league fixtures this season.