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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
James Quinlan & Alex James

Roy Keane pulls no punches with Fulham verdict after Manchester United FA Cup tie

Roy Keane insists Fulham's FA Cup madness at Old Trafford makes it hard to praise the Cottagers for their positive first 75 minutes against Manchester United.

Marco Silva's side were the better side for much of the quarter-final and led through Alexsandar Mitrovic's second-half header. But a handball on the line by Willian prompted a Fulham implosion as the winger was sent off following a VAR review with his manager and goalscorer also dismissed for their protests.

Bruno Fernandes levelled for United with the resultant spot kick and within 90 seconds Marcel Sabitzer put Erik ten Hag's side in front. Fernandes sealed the result, and a semi-final with Brighton, with a third in the dying seconds.

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It was an extraordinary end to the contest and Keane was in no doubt that Fulham had thrown away the game rather than United winning it.

Speaking on ITV, the United great said: "It was self-destruction there really with the incident, particularly for the penalty, and then the reaction from the manager and the players.

"Obviously it’s an emotional game, we’ve all been there, but it’s a mad 90 seconds that’s cost them the game. It's not necessarily about United winning the game, it’s about Fulham finding a way to lose. I have no sympathy for Fulham. They can get one or two plaudits, they won’t be getting any of them from me. They had an opportunity and they blew it.

"The whole dynamic of the game changed, the energy in the stadium, the supporters. Obviously it was game over. Literally impossible for certain teams (to play with nine men), Fulham tried to sit back and United - we were frustrated with United not trying to get more goals - but it was a case of the last kick of the game to confirm the game was dead and buried. United were just toying with them in the last 10 or 15 minutes."

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