Credit: Manh Tung - Breaking Media

Oliver Walton

Sun 15 March 2026 16:07, UK

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Manchester United and Aston Villa were left frustrated by the performance of Anthony Taylor as three “pivotal” errors in Sunday’s 3-1 win for the home side were identified by Football Insider’s officiating experts.

United found the lead just after the interval as Casemiro glanced Bruno Fernandes’ corner past Emi Martinez for his seventh league goal of the season.

Villa soon hit back through Ross Barkley in the 64th minute as he turned Lucas Digne’s cross home and saw his goal survive a VAR check for offside against Amadou Onana.

Michael Carrick’s side quickly restored parity between the teams, as Fernandes turned provider once more to set Matheus Cunha up to sweep the ball in on the counter for 2-1.

Benjamin Sesko stepped off the bench to score once again and make it three for the hosts as Man United beat Villa to stay third in the Premier League.

Football Insider have looked at three decisions that Taylor got wrong during the match.

Man United should have had a penalty for Tyrone Mings’ tug on Amad

The first half did not make great viewing for fans and neutrals alike, but United will feel as if they should have had the chance to open the scoring in the 17th minute, long before they eventually did.

Cunha had beaten Lamare Bogarde on the left wing before delivering a lofted cross that flashed across the face of the goal and was just missed by the leaping Amad.

Replays showed that the Ivorian winger was being pulled down by Villa defender Mings, who was fortunate that Taylor failed to spot the offence.

VAR also should have got involved to give United the penalty and a great opportunity to make it 1-0.

Casemiro was fortunate to stay on the pitch after fouling spree

Casemiro continued his fine scoring form with another header to put the Red Devils ahead, but was lucky to stay on the pitch until being taken off in the 91st minute.

He flew into tackles in typical fashion, committing two fouls in the first half as Taylor decided against showing the Brazilian midfielder a yellow card.

The same happened after he scored, as two more reckless tackles on Morgan Rogers within minutes of each other after his goal garnered United’s first booking of the match.

Four definite fouls committed, yet just one yellow card produced, means he can count himself lucky that he was not sent off by Taylor.

Leny Yoro did not deserve a booking for Tammy Abraham tangle

The Red Devils’ second booking of the game went to Yoro after he was adjudged to have pulled Villa striker Abraham down off the ball while the visitors’ attack down the right flank.

Taylor played on following the offence, as Villa then lost the ball and Cunha went up the other end to make it 2-1.

The referee then went back to book Yoro, although replays showed that he was simply tussling with Abraham in a 50/50 duel, and the offence was not one that deserved a booking for his first foul of the game.