Dorgu's 96th-minute header rightly stood against Villa, says ex-referee, as Cunha named main offender

Patrick Dorgu’s header in the sixth minute of stoppage time earned Manchester United a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday, but the goal has been the subject of significant controversy, with Villa’s players and goalkeeper Zion Suzuki protesting immediately after the final whistle. Former Premier League referee Gallagher has since declared the decision correct.

United had trailed by two goals on two separate occasions under manager Michael Carrick before Dorgu met a deep corner to level matters deep into added time. The controversy centred on whether United’s goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who had come forward for the set piece, impeded Suzuki as the Villa stopper attempted to claim the ball.

Gallagher, speaking on Sky Sports, argued the contact was minimal and that Suzuki bore some responsibility for failing to deal with a congested situation. “I think it is a goal — does he make a lot of contact? He does make contact, there is no doubt about that,” Gallagher said. “There is minimal contact, although there is contact, there is no doubt about that. Lammens is not looking at the ball and that does go against him, but is he looking to find a space, so it is harder for the goalkeeper to come through? The referee is right.”

Former Premier League midfielder Tim Sherwood took a slightly different view, suggesting the goal was a foul in principle but identifying Matheus Cunha as the primary culprit rather than Lammens. “I think it is a foul, but do you get it in the 96th minute at Old Trafford? No,” Sherwood said. “The main offender was Cunha, who grabs Suzuki’s left arm, which is what stops him.”

The VAR review ultimately upheld the on-field decision, meaning United claimed a point from a chaotic match that saw eight goals shared between two sides separated by a single point in the Premier League table. For Carrick, who faces mounting pressure in the Old Trafford dugout, the late reprieve offered some relief, though the manner in which United twice surrendered two-goal leads will do little to ease scrutiny on his position.