Gary Neville turned lip-reader during Saturday's coverage of Manchester United's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur, claiming Senne Lammens told his defenders he 'didn't want the ball'. The Belgian shot-stopper endured some heart-in-mouth moments on Saturday, one of which almost cost United a goal.
Lammens' first-half struggles
Lammens' wayward pass to Kobbie Mainoo was intercepted within 10 minutes, but the shot-stopper redeemed himself by thwarting Dominic Solanke's certain close-range effort. The goalkeeper's struggles with the ball at his feet continued as he fired out of play and sparked frustration within Old Trafford.
It was a low point in a frustrating evening for Red Devils supporters, twice voicing their discontent at half-time and full-time as 10-man Spurs salvaged a deserved point.
Spurs fight back for a draw
Bryan Mbeumo had handed United the lead midway through the second-half and when Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for violent conduct after a headbutt on Luke Shaw, it looked like the points had been wrapped up. However, Dominic Solanke outmuscled Lisandro Martinez to get the wrong side of the Argentine and deftly nodded in the equaliser in stoppage-time.
Spurs' wastefulness saved the Red Devils from trailing at half-time, despite the North London outfit carving through Michael Carrick's team repeatedly.
Neville's reading of the situation
Uncharacteristic struggles from Lammens compounded United's woes, with Neville highlighting the 24-year-old's difficulties and boldly suggesting he was pleading with his colleagues not to play the ball back to him. He said: "Senne Lammens, that ball is getting back to him too much by the way, number one."
"But number two, when it comes back to him, he's looking like it's a struggle in his mind. 'I don't want it' he's just said, I'm not a lip reader but there was a little f (swear word) in there as well."
Carrick under pressure
Prior to the international break, Carrick came under scrutiny regarding his position in the Old Trafford hot seat following two defeats and a draw from their last three outings. United have been unable to build upon the impressive foundations laid last season under the Premier League-winning midfielder.
The new arrivals have failed to make their mark on proceedings, with marquee signing Carlos Baleba still awaiting his maiden start for the club, though he was named amongst the substitutes for Roberto De Zerbi's side's visit.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believed that United were architects of their own downfall during the opening 45 minutes. He said: "Michael Carrick will be thinking, 'how do we get a foothold in this game?' They've got no idea how to play out, no real structure, spread out and I think Tottenham have been excellent in the first-half."
"Man United have caused their own problems, that pass isn't on (from Lammens). Playing it into a midfield player there, Bergvall pounces on it."
Spurs entered Saturday's encounter in equally dire straits having begun the day rooted to the bottom of the table. The Italian's charges are yet to taste victory in the Premier League this campaign, managing just two draws and three losses to kick off the season.
