After Michael Carrick recently expressed his anger about Lisandro Martinez’s red card against Bournemouth, Manchester United legend Roy Keane hit out at the Reds’ interim boss

Roy Keane has accused Michael Carrick of using Lisandro Martinez’s red card to distract away from Manchester United’s poor performance against Leeds United. Carrick was furious when Martinez was shown a red card in the Reds’ 2-1 home defeat to Leeds, a decision the club has appealed.

The Argentinian defender was given his marching orders for tugging on the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Referee Paul Tierney pulled out the red card after being told to review the incident by VAR, something which made Carrick particularly angry.

In his post-match interview, Carrick described the decision as “one of the worst” he’s seen this season and compared it to Harry Maguire’s red card against Bournemouth the week before. However, Keane did not agree with Carrick, stating the fact United were 2-0 down before Martinez was sent for an early shower.

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Keane, speaking on The Overlap, said: “I can see why he gave it, but this idea of violent conduct, it is harsh. They did it to (Michael) Keane, he was sent off at Everton a couple of months ago and that was the same type of scenario.

“He didn’t really grab him but he got a red card for it, so. I think when they call it violent conduct that sounds a bit bizarre doesn’t it? I am amazed after the game, United, everyone is angry at the sending off.

“You should be angry with the performance. Do you know what it is? It’s like a distraction, the sending off. No, you were 2-0 down at the time.

“Be angry with the fist half where you can turn up for a game so slowly. It’s like a distraction for everyone, ‘We will talk about the sending off’. I can see why he sent him off, but this violent conduct seems a bit strange.”

United were able to maintain their place in third position, despite the draw with Bournemouth and the defeat to Leeds. However, their situation is more precarious, as Aston Villa in fourth are level on points with the Reds.

In his post-match interview, Carrick did not hide his disappointment at the decision, which leaves him without both Maguire and Martinez for this weekend’s away clash against Chelsea. He said: “That decision was one of the worst I’ve ever seen.

“He [Calvert-Lewin] can throw his arms in Licha’s [Martinez’s] face – and then he’s sent off. Shocking. I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive.

“He touches it and he gets sent off. Worse of all, he gets sent to overturn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking. He is off balance and grappling.

“We have got to be careful where the game is going. It is a shocking decision, absolutely shocking.”

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