'Bruno Fernandes Skied Penalty Vs Aston Villa Due To Feeling Pressure Of Cristiano Ronaldo Being There'

Tim Sherwood believes Bruno Fernandes skied his 92nd minute penalty against Aston Villa due to the pressure of Cristiano Ronaldo being there.

Fernandes immediately became Manchester United's first-choice penalty taker following his arrival from Sporting CP and had missed just once out of 22 spot-kicks taken going into today's game.

You would have backed the former Udinese man to convert late on at Old Trafford this afternoon when Kortney Hause handled the ball in the box minutes after scoring.

But Fernandes uncharacteristically blazed the ball over the bar and into the Stretford End as United lost 1-0 to Villa in their second home defeat in a week.

Many are now tipping Fernandes' compatriot Ronaldo to assume spot-kick duties and Sherwood reckons the presence of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was a key factor in his poor penalty.

"He don't miss that, you never, ever see him blast the ball over the crossbar. He always waits for the goalkeeper to down and rolls it in the other corner.

"That's the pressure of someone else here. The main man is here, it's distorted his thinking there, he knows he's got one chance and one chance only.

"We've just seen it go by."

Prior to Fernandes skying his effort, Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez confidently shouted at Ronaldo and told him to take the penalty.

He then did a bit trash-talking to Fernandes and started thrusting about towards United supporters when the spot-kick was spurned.

Fernandes' last penalty miss came in a 4-1 win over Newcastle last and until today, he had never completely missed the target from 12 yards.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not happy with Villa players surrounding Fernandes as he prepared to take his kick.

"First of all, the way they get around the penalty spot, get around Bruno and all that," Solskjaer told beIN Sports.

"That’s not to my liking.

“I do understand it, but it shouldn’t be that way. Bruno’s normally very good in those positions, he just unfortunately missed this one.”

Featured Image Credit: Image: PA & Premier League

Topics: Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Aston Villa

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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