Manchester United were made to sweat it out for an eventually convincing victory over West Ham United, but it could all have been avoided if Jesse Lingard hadn’t made a terrible miss in the first half.
Goals from Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were enough to give United all three points and another substantial boost in their hunt for a top four finish.
However, Lingard pulled off what could arguably be one of the worst misses of the season. After being set up by a Zlatan Ibrahimovic cross, Valencia’s effort was saved by West Ham keeper Darren Randolph only to fall at the feet of Lingard in the mouth of goal.
The English winger shockingly side-footed it into the post and out. Fans were shocked by the terrible miss and couldn’t help but vent out on Twitter.
Miss of the season by Jesse Lingard? #MUFC
— United Report (@ManUtdReport_) January 2, 2017
Lingard substitute yourself now.
— UtdWay (@UtdWay) January 2, 2017
Think it was genuinely harder to hit the post than score from where Lingard was. Shocking miss.
— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) January 2, 2017
Lingard frantically searching for an offside flag to come and save him.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) January 2, 2017
Zlatan trying to work out how Valencia and Lingard missed that? #ZlatanFacts pic.twitter.com/M5Ghi6qeiI
— Zlatan Facts (@ZIatanFacts) January 2, 2017
Take off Lingard ..Win the match
Not so tough is it ?
— United Fan (@G2United) January 2, 2017
There’s a reason Lingard starts with an L
— Olly (@Giroudesquee) January 2, 2017
Lingard is that type of player who’ll hit a 35 yard bicycle volley with his penis and then miss a 1 yard open goal 53 seconds later.
— Lisa Johnson (@girlmanutd) January 2, 2017
The 24-year-old winger is an academy graduate and fan favourite. Lingard has had his moments in a United shirt, scoring in big games like the FA Cup final and Community Shield recently.
It is therefore no surprise that a few of the Old Trafford faithful stood up for the Englishman even as he was being criticized for a, quite frankly, terrible miss.
Hey #mufc fans …leave #Lingard alone …he’s our player #ficklefans
— janeausten123 (@janeausten123) January 2, 2017
I think Lingard is good but I also think he’s one of the worst finishers I have ever seen in my life.
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) January 2, 2017
For a lad who scored the winner in the Cup Final, came through the clubs academy & never lets Utd down, Lingard takes ridiculous abuse.
— Pilib de Brún (@Malachians) January 2, 2017
Criticise!it’s ok!But why abuse one of your own?you protect your weakest family member,not abuse him! #lingard
— Shaniya Mehra (@Shaaniyamehra) January 2, 2017
Seems because Lingard’s an academy graduate fans should go easy on him. He scored a great goal in the FA Cup Final, but he’s not a starter.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) January 2, 2017
However the fact remains that with Lingard’s miss one of the highlights of the game, combined with the brilliant performances put in by Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford, the 24-year-old may not find it easy to break into the starting XI again.
This is not to mention the likes of Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who are probably the first choice wingers at Mourinho’s disposal at the present moment.
Mourinho should know now to never start Lingard ahead of Rashford and Martial
— PP6 (@CentralPogba) January 2, 2017
Can’t see Lingard getting back in with Rashford and Martial being MOTM in the last 2 ga
mes
— The United Girl (@TheMUnitedGirl) January 2, 2017