Stuart Pearce, a pundit for talkSPORT, was left stunned after Scott McTominay avoided punishment for an incident involving Seamus Coleman. During a match between Manchester United and Everton, Coleman was holding up the ball on the touchline when McTominay rushed into the back of him. This led to the defender falling to the ground and looking for a free-kick, which the referee awarded. However, McTominay reacted angrily and kneed Coleman in the backside before kicking the ball at him. This resulted in a touchline fracas, with players from both sides getting involved as McTominay and Coleman traded verbal insults. Despite this, McTominay managed to avoid a booking or red card.
Sam Matterface explained the situation on talkSPORT, saying that there was a kick out from McTominay on the far side of the pitch that flared up on the touchline. He added that there was an exchange with Seamus Coleman, a little knee in the back from McTominay, and then he kicked out at Coleman. Matterface went on to say that there was a bit of a melee going on and that Marcus Rashford had gone over to try and diffuse the situation.
Pearce was also on talkSPORT and expressed his surprise that McTominay had not received a card for his actions. He said that McTominay had kicked out at Coleman twice, who was on his knees on the floor, and that he had obviously become frustrated because Coleman had gone to ground too readily. Pearce added that McTominay should have been booked for something of that nature and that he had kneed Coleman up the bum before booting the ball at him while he was lying on the floor.
Despite this, no card was given, and referee Michael Oliver allowed the players to continue. Matterface was surprised by this and said that he was surprised that no yellow card had been given. Pearce was astounded by this decision.
McTominay had put United a goal up earlier in the game after the Red Devils barraged Everton’s defence in the first half with 25 shots. Jordan Pickford, Everton’s goalkeeper, was called into action and made a string of decent saves to keep the Toffees in the game. However, they eventually became unstuck in the 35th minute when Jadon Sancho picked up some space on the right-hand side, slotting in McTominay as he rushed into the box before poking a fine effort into the net. Anthony Martial then made it 2-0 in the second half after a disastrous mistake from Coleman when the ball got caught under his feet.
Despite Everton not threatening David de Gea at all, they fell to defeat as United went third in the Premier League. However, there was a dampener as Marcus Rashford came off injured.