Pat Nevin has slammed Nayef Aguerd after his ‘absolute mare’ as West Ham United lost at Manchester United in the FA Cup. The centre-half was at fault for each goal in a 3-1 defeat.
West Ham initially took the lead at Old Trafford as Said Benrahma (54’) broke the deadlock with a powerful shot. But Aguerd (77’) would draw the Red Devils level after turning Bruno Fernandes’ corner into his own net. He glanced the ball under pressure by Wout Weghorst.
Manchester United would punish Aguerd in the closing stages, as well, after the West Ham ace failed to deal with Fernandes’ hopeful cross. The Hammers’ £30m summer arrival from Stade Rennais could only divert it to Weghorst. But he managed to block the striker’s shot.
Yet the ball fell kindly to Alejandro Garnacho (90’) to give Manchester United the lead over West Ham. The 18-year-old took one touch to control the ball before curling his attempt in at Alphonse Areola’s far post. Yet Aguerd’s nightmare tie was still not over on Wednesday.
Areola could only watch whilst Aguerd failed to control Marcus Rashford’s cross inside the six-yard box. Weghorst immediately pounced on the 26-year-old to win possession and set Fred (90’+5) up to score. The midfielder ghosted in front of Jarrod Bowen to settle the tie.
Pat Nevin slams Nayef Aguerd for the West Ham star’s ‘absolute mare’ at Man Utd
David Moyes afforded Aguerd his 14th appearance for West Ham at Manchester United in the FA Cup. The 30-cap Morocco international has established himself as one of the Irons’ first-choice centre-halves since the World Cup. But he produced a shocker at Old Trafford.
The Hammers had to wait to see what Aguerd would offer after sustaining an ankle injury in pre-season. It forced the 6 ft 2 defender to undergo surgery but he earned Moyes’ backing once fit. Yet Aguerd’s work at Manchester United stunned Nevin for all the wrong reasons.
“Aguerd scored the own goal and is now at fault for the goal, which is a shame,” Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. “It is a really poor clearance.”
Nevin also later added: “Aguerd has just blown it again and that is the worst mistake of the night. He leaves it right in front of Fred. Aguerd, poor lad, has had an absolute mare.”
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