Man United boss Erik ten Hag accepts suspension but remains defiant

LONDON – Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was in a defiant mood, after being handed a touchline suspension following his team’s 1-0 English Premier League home victory over Luton Town on Saturday.

The Dutchman was shown his third yellow card of the season, as Victor Lindelof scored the only goal to earn United their second league win in a row and lift the gloom at Old Trafford after their poor start to the campaign.

“There is a certain point you have to accept decisions, I should do as well,” ten Hag said.

The United boss, booked for arguing about a throw-in decision late in the game, will have to watch from the stands when his side travel to Everton on Nov 26 after the international break.

“We have very competent coaching staff and they will take over and, of course up to a certain point, I can be involved,” he said.

United’s second successive Premier League victory gave ten Hag and his team a bit of breathing room as defender Lindelof’s rare 59th-minute goal sent their fans home happy.

“We could have made life easier by scoring more, but I think we create many chances,” ten Hag added.

“We had to fight until the end and then it’s maybe not the prettiest, but I’m happy that we created many chances.”

Rasmus Hojlund, who scored twice in Wednesday’s 4-3 Champions League loss at Copenhagen and had a couple of excellent chances against Luton, went straight for treatment after ten Hag took him off late in the game.

“In this moment I can’t tell anything about it because I don’t know. He did an assessment, but you have to wait 24 hours for what is the conclusion,” ten Hag said.

Luton have mustered only one win in their debut Premier League season and face a tough challenge to retain their place in the top flight.

“I go into every game believing that we can win or get something from it,” manager Rob Edwards said.

“But it is just a huge challenge. The Premier League is so so difficult. The players are really good.

“This club (United) are in a difficult moment. The expectations were on them today. Credit to them, they won the game.

“We fought really, really hard and showed a lot of good qualities.”

The result meant that Luton remained in the relegation zone, while United have now 21 points from 12 games, one more than Newcastle United.

Magpies manager Eddie Howe conceded that injuries and a heavy schedule have taken a toll on his side after losing 2-0 on his return to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Dominic Solanke struck twice in 13 second-half minutes to lift the Cherries out of the relegation zone.

Newcastle started without a recognised striker and handed a first Premier League start to teenager Lewis Miley, with Howe’s squad stretched to the limit.

Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak, Harvey Barnes, Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy, Sven Botman and Matt Targett were all sidelined by injury, while Bruno Guimaraes was suspended. Sandro Tonali is serving a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules.

Newcastle are in the midst of their first Champions League campaign for 20 years and have also progressed to the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

“It was just a game too far and we couldn’t respond. Bournemouth played well but we were well below par,” said Howe, who managed Bournemouth for 11 years in two spells between 2008 and 2020.

“It was a tough afternoon. We weren’t ourselves in possession or out of possession.

“If you can’t do that at this level, it will be a difficult day.

“When we are under fatigue and stretched, we usually respond better.

“We need to dust ourselves down and come back strong.”

There could be further bad news for Howe, as Miguel Almiron had to be replaced after just 31 minutes with a hamstring injury.
REUTERS, AFP