Let’s play an adapted game of the old Shoot magazine favourite, You Are The New Manchester United Defender. The scenario is as follows: You are Patrick Dorgu, making your third start for your hapless new employers after joining from Lecce in January. The game is against Ipswich Town, a team once beaten 9-0 on this ground. Do you:
a) Relax, Ipswich are probably going to be relegated and even though your first two games have not been brilliant you know you are a class act;
b) Get pumped up, this is the night where you can start to build your legacy as the United full-back of the future. Move over Aaron Wan-Bissaka, we’re going to need more room in the Old Trafford defender Hall of Fame;
c) Stay at home. Victor Lindelof has probably got this one covered;
d) Implode.
Dorgu chose d) and probably wishes he went for c) after a woeful first half in which he gave away a goal after four minutes then was sent off for a horribly misjudged high tackle. In a season of lows for United, this plumbed new depths.
The horror goal
With the game still young, Ipswich launched a high ball forward which Dorgu seemed to have under his control. He was racing back towards his own goal with Jaden Philogene in pursuit. A slightly tricky bounce seemed to unnerve him and as he reached his own area, with goalkeeper Andre Onana sprinting off his line, Dorgu slid the ball neatly past the advancing player.
Unfortunately that player was his team-mate Onana and Philogene was able to slow to a jog before tapping into an empty net. The moment was made even more harrowing as it was replayed, with Dorgu’s face showing the full scale of his horror as it became clear what he had done. “Dorgu I don’t think at any moment looks up and sees where his goalkeeper is,” said Rio Ferdinand on TNT Sport. “I don’t think the awareness is there.”
Suboptimal, but then United rallied, scoring twice in four minutes to take a 2-1 lead.
The horror tackle
This was a time for cool heads and game management but Dorgu chose violence instead. A poor touch from Ipswich’s Amari Hutchinson should have given him a chance to steal the ball. But Dorgu was already fully committed to a rash challenge and connected high and hard on his opponent’s shin.
The VAR review was needlessly long but only delayed the inevitable, a red card. “That is reckless,” said Ferdinand. “It’s a straight red, studs up. I don’t think there can be any complaints.”
Few could argue and given the blood-letting at United lately, Dorgu probably only has himself for company in a very lonely dressing room.
