Luke Shaw said his “silly mistake” cost Manchester United an important point in a 1-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Thursday.
Deep into second-half stoppage time a cross from a corner kick grazed Shaw’s outstretched arm and, after consulting the pitchside monitor, referee Andre Mariner gave Brighton a penalty that Alexis Mac Callister converted to give his side all three points.
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“Last minute, last action really. I got a little nudge, but of course the hand shouldn’t be there,” Shaw told Sky Sports after the game. “I own up to it, take it on the chin, it cost us the game, but it is tough. I can’t even explain why my hand is up there.
“I got a nudge, maybe that helps with my hand going up, but it shouldn’t be there.”
The result may have felt like a bit of revenge for Brighton after their loss to United in a penalty shootout in the FA Cup semifinals 12 days earlier. It moved Roberto de Zerbi’s side into sixth place in the table, eight points behind fourth-place United, but with a game in hand in the race for Champions League qualification.
United stayed two points behind third-place Newcastle United and four points ahead of Liverpool, who have played one more game.
