Micah Richards raises Man Utd transfer concern after Newcastle defeat | Football

Micah Richards says Manchester United’s dramatic 2-1 defeat to Newcastle was further proof that the club ‘need to go and recruit’ to improve their strength in depth in the summer.

Michael Carrick encountered his first major blip since taking charge of United as a spirited Newcastle prevailed at St James’ Park despite losing Jacob Ramsey to a red card at the midway point.

The Red Devils had appeared to have swung the momentum back in their favour after Casemiro headed home to cancel out Anthony Gordon’s opener from the penalty spot in a frantic end to the first half.

Just moments earlier, Ramsey had been shown a second yellow card for an apparent dive, reducing the hosts to ten men for the entirety of the second period.

But the Magpies refused to lie down and Howe’s decision to remove Gordon for William Osula in the 85th minute proved a masterstroke, with the latter providing the standout moment of quality to win it at the death.

Senne Lammens could only watch on despairingly as the young Dane cut in from the right touchline before finding the net with a unstoppable curling effort to send the home crowd into raptures.

‘We’re not happy with the way we played the game tonight,’ United interim manager Carrick told reporters at his post-match press conference shortly after the final whistle.

‘The way the game panned out, I think we had it in our hands largely, but credit to Newcastle, the way they approached the game.

‘We knew it was going to be a tough game here, we navigated the game to be in a position where we felt we should kick on but we didn’t. So yeah, bitterly disappointed.’

Asked why his players had struggled to gather any momentum despite having a man advantage, Carrick replied: ‘I don’t think it was the ten men, we just didn’t play good enough tonight.

‘We can’t make any excuses for that, we all take responsibility for that.’

For Carrick, it is perhaps fortunate that his players now have a week and a half to regroup and find their feet again before returning to Premier League action at home to Aston Villa – who sit below them only on goal difference.

Analysing the game in the Match of the Day studio, ex-Manchester City and England defender Richards made sure to praise Newcastle for the resilience they showed when going a man down at the end of the first half.

‘The crowd behind them, roaring them on, I thought they were excellent,’ he said.

But turning his attentions to the visitors, Richards suggested the limp performance from United demonstrated where the club were still badly lacking in their squad.

‘I feel as though they’ve done so well in recent weeks and if you look at their starting XI, it’s very good,’ he explained.

‘Then you start to look at the bench and it doesn’t have the same impact as well.

‘So they’ve got the first bit right… now, in the summer, they need to go and recruit.

‘The last time Carrick lost points [away to West Ham] was when they played two games in a week.

‘So it’s showing they can’t maybe deal with that and the players coming on aren’t giving the same impetus. That’s something to look at for Manchester United.’

According to Richards, the decision to reduce Newcastle to ten men was questionable at best given it was a case of Ramsey ‘losing his balance’ rather than the player trying to con the referee.

‘He just loses his balance, that’s all it is,’ the 2012 Premier League winner argued.

‘You can see when the ball goes through, he makes a terrific run but he just loses balance. It’s as simple as that.

‘It’s not a second yellow card, he didn’t deserve to get sent off and it’s as simple as that.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Fuming Laura Woods rings in live to talkSPORT to blast ‘disrespectful’ Arsenal comments

MORE: Owen Hargreaves sends clear Michael Carrick warning to Manchester United chiefs

MORE: Brighton star agrees with Fabian Hurzeler and slams Arsenal tactic