It’s official! Man Utd have the Premier League’s DUMBEST player

Erik ten Hag knows better than anyone that his Manchester United need to launch their season by gaining some positive momentum.

The Red Devils emerged from their scoreless draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday with the credit of having produced a dominant performance. Off the back of thrashing Barnsley 7-0 in midweek, it was not the result they wanted, but there was a sense they took another small step forwards.

What United did not need, though, was an idiotic red card that might have swung the course of the match against them. Lisandro Martinez, to that end, nearly shot his side in the foot with what was very nearly one of the most idiotic challenges in the history of the Premier League.

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The match is nearly 63 minutes old. Man Utd have got a strong grip on the game, dominating in terms of territory and probing dangerously, even if Palace are carrying a threat on the break.

Amad Diallo tries to bury his way into the box but has his shot blocked. The ball runs loose to the edge of the box, where Daichi Kamada and Martinez go to compete for possession. The Palace player wins the race comfortably and is greeted with the Argentine jumping in with a two-footed stamp.

If contact had been made, it would have been a clear red card. Even without it, the Argentine was presented with a yellow and might even have seen a more severe punishment.

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“I don’t know why you’ve made this kind of challenge. It’s just mad,” Alan Smith said on co-commentary for Sky Sports.

It’s hard to argue with such a simple assessment of the situation, which was all the more ludicrous given the match situation.

Moments after Lisandro’s moment of madness, Andre Onana was forced to make a double save that was in the same ballpark of quality as David Raya’s famous stop for Arsenal in midweek.

Lisandro playing with fire

The consequences for both United and Ten Hag could have been far more severe had the former Ajax defender seen red. It would have left the Old Trafford side in serious danger of suffering a third defeat of the season, thereby leaving the manager in hot water.

United could also have been looking at the next three Premier League fixtures – against Tottenham, Aston Villa and Brentford – without one of their premier centre-backs.

On this occasion, Martinez got away with it, but it was the type of moment a Man Utd side that is forever teetering on the brink of crisis and that seems to have perennial selection problems can scarcely afford.