Piers Morgan leads protests as Wolves are denied a late penalty against Man Utd

Piers Morgan and Rio Ferdinand have led the protests after Manchester United got away with a late penalty call in their win over Wolves.

United rode their luck against an impressive away team in their opening game of the Premier League season, facing 23 shots as they were second best at a frustrated Old Trafford.

The Red Devils eventually held on for three points, but Wolves were almost awarded a late penalty when Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic when trying to claim a high ball into the box.

After a lengthy VAR review, the on-field decision from Simon Hooper stood and United saw out the rest of the game to win 1-0.

Morgan slammed the decision on Twitter, branding the events 'ridiculous' as former United defender insisted Onana was 'lucky' to fall on the right side of the decision.

'United's goalkeeper nearly decapitates two Wolves opponents - but the referee's decision was to book their manager at the lack of penalty,' Morgan tweeted. 'Ridiculous.'

Ferdinand added: 'Apologies to Wolves players and fans. Scrappy Man United win! Onana v lucky at the end there. 3 points and back to the training pitch this evening pls. Premier League is back.'

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil was booked for his protests against the decision as referees continue to clamp down on dugout behaviour in the new season.

But several more members of the football world believed the new manager had a point.

'So VAR gets involved to give a penalty against Son at Brentford yesterday but decides to let that one go,' ITV presenter Mark Pougatch posted.

'Genuinely what is the point of VAR? One of the most blatant penalties you will ever see.. not given,' Sky's Adam Smith added.

Presenter Jason Mohammad's posted: 'This is not a penalty. What is happening? No wonder Gary O’Neil is fuming. Saying that, I’ve seen Mr Hooper not give the most obvious penalty the world has ever seen with my own eyes. Unbelievable.'

TalkSports presenter Jeff Stelling's take was: 'Remind me if I have said this before but VAR. Pathetic. How can that not be a Wolves pen? Just a joke as it has been since its inception.'

Sky Sport's Monday Night Football pundits also discussed the call, with Karen Carney and Gary Neville in agreement that s spot kick should have been awarded.

Carney said: 'I think it was a penalty, I think Gary O’neil was spot on. I think he is right to feel aggrieved by this.

'Onana comes out and I think he takes his eye off it last minute and at the end of the day takes out a player. At the end of the day he just clatters him. That’s a penalty no?'

Neville added: 'The reason why I thought it was a penalty was because I don’t think Onana was anywhere near the ball. He was always under it, he was always getting there, so I think he could have made the decision before he jumped.

Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, wasn't so sure. He said: 'I’m not sure. When I initially saw it and when it hadn’t been given as a penalty I didn’t think there was any way in the world that it was going to be overturned.

'I didn’t think it was that big of a mistake, you’re talking about wanting to keep the referee’s decision on the pitch. I think once the referee hadn’t given it I didn’t think it was that big of a mistake for them to overturn.

A relieved Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, defender his new signing despite describing the call as 'difficult'.

'Yeah it is difficult. The ball comes in and it was really brave to come out and the ball was touched before Andre dived in so I don’t think he had an influence on the touch from the opponent', he told Sky Sports.

'The VAR adjudged it and was on our side so we are happy with the points.'

He also told the BBC: 'He (Onana) had very good saves, was very calm, very good debut. After the opponent touched the ball he dived in so it was the judgement of the officials and lucky for us no penalty. I think you can debate it but I think no penalty.'