Dara O’Shea Reflects on Ipswich Town’s 5-2 Loss to Manchester United

Dara O’Shea admitted Ipswich Town’s 5-2 defeat at Manchester United left them with a familiar, bitter taste – and a lingering frustration with VAR.

The Ipswich captain described the contest as “very much” a game of two halves after his side went in at the break feeling they had the giants of Old Trafford rocking.

“We came in at half-time in a good place,” O’Shea told BBC Radio Suffolk. “We were disappointed with conceding a goal, but it's a mistake and these things happen.

“We felt like we were the better team and that we were more dangerous.”

That belief evaporated after the restart. The turning point, in O’Shea’s eyes, came with United’s second goal, which he felt left Ipswich on the wrong side of another tight call.

“Second half is a different story. We were extremely unlucky with the second goal. I don't really understand the ruling, or how it counts, but that's football,” he said.

The Irish defender did not hide his irritation with the technology that once again went against them.

“We've been in these situations before. VAR hasn't been our friend before and it might be the same again.

“We've got to crack on with it and react better in those moments.

“There will be moments where things don't go our way, so it's a lesson and we've got to learn.”