---
title: "Alan Shearer baffled by non-penalty decision against Manchester United"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/09/20/alan-shearer-baffled-by-non-penalty-decision-against-manchester-united/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-09-20T07:30:00Z"
modified: "2021-09-20T07:30:00Z"
---

# Alan Shearer baffled by non-penalty decision against Manchester United

Premier League all-time record top goalscorer Alan Shearer has been left baffled by the failure to award [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/09/19/mark-lawrenson-predicts-difficult-afternoon-for-west-ham/) a penalty against Manchester United.

The Hammers were ultimately defeated [2-1 at home](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/september/19-september/goals-west-ham-united-1-2-manchester-united) in a frantic encounter as both sides had strong claims for spot-kicks.

[Mark Noble](https://readwestham.com/2021/09/08/virals-pablo-fornals-pinpoints-career-turning-point-at-west-ham/) was sent on in the dying moments to take a penalty in an attempt to level the game at 2-2 – only to see his effort saved by David de Gea.

However, speaking on [Match of the Day 2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000zx10/match-of-the-day-2-202122-19092021) Shearer decided to concentrate on an earlier incident that saw the visitors awarded a free-kick after [Aaron Wan-Bissaka slid in on Tomas Soucek](https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1439598691149651976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1439598691149651976%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-1163405521990636438.ampproject.net%2F2109032350000%2Fframe.html) nowhere near the ball.

> "He's given it the other way!"[#WHUFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WHUFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) want a penalty but Martin Atkinson gives a free-kick to [#MUFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) – correct decision? 👀[#WHUMUN](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WHUMUN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/4zhMiTIBZd](https://t.co/4zhMiTIBZd)
>
> — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) [September 19, 2021](https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1439598691149651976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Just watch here, Wan-Bissaka on Soucek. He absolutely wipes him out.

The most [bizarre outcome](https://fanbanter.co.uk/viewers-rage-at-martin-atkinsons-bizarre-decision-in-soucek-wan-bissaka-incident/) of all was referee, Martin Atkinson, inexplicably awarding a set piece to Wan-Bissaka.

Irons’ boss David Moyes opted to [concentrate on the result](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/mark-noble-david-moyes-david-de-gea-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-luke-shaw-b1922948.html) and potentially missed opportunity in his post-match briefing.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

This was perhaps the most obvious miss of the game.

Both sides will [feel aggrieved](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/solskjaer-man-utd-west-ham-25021686) by certain decisions, but this one looked to be an oversight of epic proportions.

With the game [finely balanced](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/september/20-september/extended-highlights-west-ham-united-1-2-manchester-united) at 1-1, an opportunity to retake the lead would’ve been a welcome one for the hosts.

West Ham must regroup ahead of a [trip to Old Trafford this week](https://www.whufc.com/fixtures/first-team/fixtures-and-results) and an early chance to gain revenge over Manchester United.