Manchester United legend Gary Neville has slammed Phil Jones after the defender failed to deal with Oliver Norwood’s ‘agricultural’ pass which led to John Fleck’s opening goal at Bramall Lane.
Jones had been out for a month with a hamstring injury but returned to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI on the left side of a back-three and looked a long way off the pace before being hauled off at half-time.
Neville predicted that his former club could be in for a tough afternoon before kick-off and his fears were confirmed as the Blades dominated in the early stages of Sunday’s only Premier League encounter.
David de Gea kept Chris Wilder’s men out with a stunning double save in the 12th minute but the Spaniard could do nothing about Fleck’s strike which broke the deadlock.
Norwood played an aerial ball over Jones’ head and Lys Mousset barged the centre-back off the ball with ease before haring into the box and finding John Lundstram.
Though De Gea saved Lundstram’s initial shot, Fleck found the corner of the net with the rebound and Neville pointed the blame at one man while discussing the scrappy goal on Sky Sports’ commentary.
‘If ever a goal had been coming… the warning signs were there. [Harry] Maguire and Jones, they can’t handle the running of Mousset and [David] McGoldrick in behind them,’ Neville said.
‘It’s agricultural, it’s a channel ball, the easiest ball in the world for a centre-back to deal with and Phil Jones doesn’t deal with it.
‘Sheffield United get their just rewards. There’s a little bit of good fortune at the end.
‘Jones just has a look over his shoulder and in that moment he loses control of the duel and Sheffield United, look at them – four of them in the box!
‘Mousset gets his reward for following in.’
Neville added: ‘Manchester United’s record when they go a goal behind away from home has been poor.
‘Sometimes watching Manchester United away from home, it’s almost like they’re shocked that the other team are up for it, and they’re at it and have energy.
‘Look at them, getting to the ball.
‘Mousset had already given Maguire and Jones a tough time before that – third time lucky!
‘But for a centre-back… a channel ball that you can see coming from 50 yards away is such a simple ball to be able to deal with. It really is.’
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