Alan Shearer would like a re-do.
The Newcastle United icon was on commentary duties for Manchester United‘s FA cup exit at the hands of Fulham on Sunday, but claims he made a mistake towards the end of the broadcast.
GettyShearer came under fire for his man of the match selection last Sunday[/caption]
Cottagers defender Calvin Bassey put the visitors in front with a close-range header in first-half stoppage time before Bruno Fernandes‘ sweeping finish levelled the scores in the 71st minute.
After neither side could find a winner in extra time, Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno proved to be the hero during the penalty shootout as he denied Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee from the spot to send his side through to the last eight.
Before the contest went to extra time, Shearer had the honour of naming his man of the match.
Bassey, who repelled waves of Red Devils attacks and got on the scoresheet, appeared to be a red-hot favourite to win the award.
However, Shearer opted for Fernandes.
It was a decision that left many fans on social media and even Bassey himself puzzled.
Bassey quote-tweeted a post on X from the FA Cup account which said: “Calvin Bassey was incredible at both ends of the pitch for @FulhamFC today”.
The Fulham defender posted a raised eyebrow emoji and wrote: “No man of the match.”
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer has now explained how and why he came to choose Fernandes as his man of the match and conceded had he had his time again, Bassey would have received the honour.
“I thought Calvin Bassey was very good,” Shearer said.
“The problem is with man of the match, you’ve got to say it five minutes before the end. I’m thinking, ‘What do I do?’ I’ve got to give it before the penalties.
“So, I just thought Bruno’s got Man United back into the game with the one piece of quality that they needed. It was him who dragged them [into it] and was playing all these probing passes.
“But if I could’ve waited until after the penalties, then it might have gone to Leno, and it perhaps should have gone to Calvin Bassey, who I thought was absolutely superb at centre-half.”
Co-host Micah Richards, a former defender himself, took aim at Shearer and felt Bassey missed out on the accolade given defensive players tend to be overlooked when it comes to such honours.
Shearer concurred and held his hands up.
“I send my apologies to Calvin Bassey, then,” Shearer said.
“He should’ve got man of the match. There you go.”
Thanks to Bassey’s impressive display at both ends of the pitch, Fulham progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second time in three seasons.
The Cottagers will host Crystal Palace in the next stage of the tournament with ties to be played on the weekend of March 29-30.
As for United, it leaves victory in the Europa League as their last chance of silverware this term and only hope of qualifying for Europe next season given they sit 14th in the Premier League.
