Mourinho's right-hand man fumesJose Mourinho''s assistant got a rare moment to take centre stage after Manchester United drew with Burnley. Manchester assistant bemoans Herrera red card Manchester United assistant manager Rui Faria suggested sarcastically that referee Mark Clattenburg did “fantastic work” by sending off Ander Herrera during their 0-0 draw with Burnley.United midfielder Herrera was dismissed for two bookable offences, the second of which came midway through the second half for a foul on Dean Marney.
The Spaniard appeared to slip as he made the challenge, but Clattenburg ruled it worthy of a booking and issued a red card.
Herrera wasn''t the only one to see red at Old Trafford as Faria conducted post-match media duties, with manager Jose Mourinho absent after being sent to the stand for reportedly protesting too strongly at half-time following a rejected penalty appeal.
Mourinho was believed to be angry that Clattenburg had refused to penalise Burnley full-back Jon Flanagan, who escaped punishment after appearing to catch Matteo Darmian''s trailing leg on the edge of the penalty area just before half-time.
Asked about the sending off incident, Faria said: “I just want to say it was fantastic work from the referee.”
Faria refused to confirm why Mourinho had been sent to the stand, saying: “I don''t know and I don''t think it is really important.
“I think what is important is what the referee will write in his report. I can''t give you more details.”
Despite his dismissal, Mourinho was able to communicate with Faria via written messages passed down by another member of his coaching staff, but his notes weren''t enough to stop United''s winless run in the league extending to a fourth match.
Burnley secured their first away point of the season largely thanks to a superb goalkeeping performance from Tom Heaton.
The former Manchester United youth keeper made a series of magnificent saves, denying Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among others.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche saluted Heaton''s display and: “I think Tom Heaton was superb. He is in very good form.
“We kept him so quiet last year that I think he has been saving it up.”
Heaton''s best save was a block from a stinging Ibrahimovic volley, although Dyche was wary of giving the goalkeeper too much praise.
“He just spread himself. Keepers get hit in the face all the time. It''s his job,” he said.
EPL results
Saturday 29 October
Crystal Palace 2-4 Liverpool
Watford 1-0 Hull City
Middlesbrough 2-0 Bournemouth
Manchester United 0-0 Burnley
West Bromwich Albion 0-4 Manchester City
Tottenham 1-1 Leicester City
Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal
NAMPA/AFP