Game Too Big For Ref says Martinez

Last updated : 17 September 2012 By Utd Mad Ed

Latic's never have any luck at United, but apparently that is not down to United being the better team, but down to the ref.

The Spaniard bemoaned that the penalty that the Reds were awarded in the first half should never have been because in his and many other people's opinion, Danny Welbeck dived.

Al Habsi saved Javier Hernandez’s penalty, but the goalkeeper was beaten four times in the second half as United ran riot.

Martinez was also left fuming that United finished the game with 11 men, he thought that Welbeck's tackle on Franco di Santo, deserved a red card, not the yellow he received.

“When you come to places like Old Trafford, you need a strong referee,” Martinez told reporters.

“Unfortunately we have had three men sent off on our last two visits, and after four minutes we were on the receiving end of one of the worst decisions you’re ever going to see.

“In many ways, you feel as though you are fighting against a mountain.

“I would never blame a referee for a scoreline, but you just want the official to measure both teams in the same way. There were tackles flying around that if they had been the other way round there would have been a couple of red cards.

“For Welbeck’s last challenge, his foot was over the ball on Franco. It is completely reckless.

“Under the new regulations you cannot do that. It is a red card, for a Wigan player, Manchester United, everyone.

“You need mentally strong referees to make these decisions regardless of their surroundings and the teams playing, but unfortunately I thought the game was too big for the referee.”