Manchester United 2 West Ham 1
Wayne Rooney will not appeal against the red card he received in Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat of West Ham United at Old Trafford despite it ruling him out for three games, with the striker admitting it was “probably the right decision”.
Visiting manager Sam Allardyce branded the incident “crazy” and “irresponsible”. It occurred when Rooney chased back Stewart Downing 15 minutes into the second half.
With the forward and Robin van Persie having scored for United before Diafra Sakho’s 37th-minute header, Rooney took a hack at Downing near the centre circle.
This caused referee Lee Mason, to show the 28-year-old a straight red, the sixth of his career and a first for the club since 2009.
“It was probably the right decision,” Rooney said. “I saw the West Ham player making a counterattack and I tried to break up the play, but I misjudged it.”
Rooney says he will not appeal: “It is a red card and I don’t think it will benefit anyone to appeal against the decision.”
Out for October
As a result, Rooney will not play any club football in October, missing next Sunday’s visit of Everton, the trip to West Bromwich Albion on October 20th, and the home game with Chelsea six days later.
The next match Rooney can feature in is the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on November 2nd.
“That’s the most disappointing thing,” Rooney said. “Obviously we got away with it by getting the win, but I am really gutted that I am going to be missing the next three games. It is hard to take and I am obviously gutted.”
Rooney apologised to the team in the dressing room after the match. “Yeah, of course I did. I am just grateful the lads were able to hold on,” he said.
Asked if he had spoken to Downing, Rooney said: “No. I haven’t absolutely volleyed the lad. I have tried to trip him up and he got further away from me and that is why my leg is straighter than it should have been.”
Next month’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia are a consolation. “It helps that the England games are coming up, but the training here is really good,” Rooney said. “So I just have to make sure I train well and be ready for when I come back.”
A bit of a swipe
Allardyce fumed about a late Kevin Nolan equaliser ruled out for offside. Of Rooney’s red card, he said: “It was crazy and it’s irresponsible. We all know that lads trip up players – but he gave him a bit of a swipe.”
Meanwhile, Louis van Gaal forgave Rooney. “He doesn’t have to change,” said the manager. “He just needed to do it in a more friendly manner. He said that to me afterwards.”
The length of Rooney’s ban, however, was news to the United manager.
“Three games you think? Okay,” Van Gaal said. “It is a big miss, especially as I am thinking now he is playing at a good standard in his new role. And he likes to play there. When he gets three matches it means also that my captain is away. He is a very important person, especially in my vision, because not for nothing is he captain of this team.”
The Dutchman isn’t worried about another red card: “No. He came at once to me and said it was not his meaning to do it like that. I can say it to you because I have already said it to him. Otherwise I would not say it.”
Herrera injury
Ander Herrera was taken off injured in the 74th minute. If the Spaniard doesn’t recover for Everton’s visit, he will be the 10th player unavailable, as Van Gaal stated there was no prospect of anyone coming back in time for next weekend. Guardian Service
