According to a report by the Evening Standard on Monday, November 9, 2026, former Tottenham Hotspur boss Tim Sherwood has criticised the officials for permitting Patrick Dorgu's stoppage-time goal during Manchester United's entertaining 4-4 Premier League encounter with Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

Sherwood believes the goal should have been disallowed because of the involvement of United goalkeeper Senne Lammens in the incident. The former manager suggested that Lammens prevented Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from properly dealing with the corner that eventually resulted in Dorgu finding the net.

The encounter produced plenty of drama, with Manchester United fighting back from a two-goal deficit to earn a share of the spoils. Michael Carrick's team continued pushing forward in the closing stages, and Lammens even joined the attacking players inside Villa's penalty area for a late corner as United desperately searched for another goal.

During the delivery, the United goalkeeper came into contact with Suzuki. Although Lammens did not manage to connect with the ball, his presence appeared to unsettle the Villa shot-stopper, who struggled to make a clean attempt to collect the cross.

Dorgu capitalised on the confusion by directing a header into the net, triggering celebrations among the Manchester United supporters. However, the circumstances surrounding the goal quickly became a major talking point after the final whistle.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher discussed the situation on Sky Sports' Ref Watch, where he explained why he felt the referee was right to allow the equaliser.

Gallagher accepted that both goalkeepers made contact but argued that Suzuki needed to demonstrate more physical strength when competing for the ball. He also considered the contact insufficient to warrant a foul and maintained that the match official had made a reasonable decision.

Sherwood, however, was unconvinced by that explanation. He insisted that the referee should have stopped play and awarded Aston Villa a free-kick because of the interference inside the penalty area.

The former Villa manager also raised questions about the influence of playing at Old Trafford, wondering whether the same decision would have been given if the incident had happened at a different Premier League ground.

In explaining his position, Sherwood argued that Lammens appeared more interested in disturbing Suzuki than attempting to reach the ball. He suggested that the United goalkeeper deliberately made contact with his opposite number to prevent him from claiming the cross.

Sherwood further accused Matheus Cunha of contributing to the incident by holding Suzuki's left arm, which allegedly restricted the Villa goalkeeper's ability to move freely and challenge for the delivery.

Former Premier League forward Jay Bothroyd also expressed sympathy with Sherwood's argument, although he admitted that Suzuki could have handled the situation more effectively.

The disagreement has added another talking point to an already dramatic contest between Manchester United and Aston Villa, with the legitimacy of Dorgu's late equaliser remaining a subject of discussion.