---
title: "Manchester United: Martin Keown criticises Phil Jones for ‘day to forget’ at Bramall Lane"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-martin-keown-criticises-phil-jones-for-day-to-forget-at-bramall-lane/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-11-26T18:10:56Z"
modified: "2019-11-26T18:10:56Z"
---

# Manchester United: Martin Keown criticises Phil Jones for ‘day to forget’ at Bramall Lane

**Former Premier League defender Martin Keown has slammed Manchester United’s Phil Jones for his display in their 3-3 draw with Sheffield United at the weekend.**

The Blades went into a two-goal lead, thanks in part to Jones’ [unsuccessful efforts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K80F0IHxJhQ) to deal with the ball in the first half which eventually led to John Fleck scoring the game’s first goal.

Writing in the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7720843/MARTIN-KEOWN-Man-Uniteds-Phil-Jones-needs-dominant-assertive-clever.html), Keown labelled the 27-year-old as ‘problematic’, while he also criticised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision to select him as part of a back-three in defence.

He said: “Jones always looked problematic in that backline, then he was at fault for the opening goal. Instead of pumping the ball into row Z — like he should have done — he allowed Lys Mousset to take it off him.

“No defender should let that happen or even take the chance. Maybe there was a hint of a foul, but Jones needed to be more dominant, more assertive, more clever.

“The man \[Solskjaer\] shoehorned into the team made a mistake and it left United chasing the game.

“For the neutral, this was a great spectacle but what a day to forget for Jones.”

Jones’ appearance on Sunday was his [first in the Premier League this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/phil-jones/leistungsdaten/spieler/117996/plus/0?saison=2019) – and just his fourth in all competitions for the Red Devils.

It was not the first time he had been deployed in a three-man defence, though – having started in a defensive trio against [Partizan Belgrade](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3252484) in the Europa League last month.

Starting in a squad with an [average age](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sheffield-united_manchester-united/aufstellung/spielbericht/3219349) of 24.5, Solskjaer insisted to Sky Sports before the game (via [Metro](https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/24/manchester-united-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-phil-jones-axel-tuanzebe-versus-sheffield-united-11210551/)) that he picked Jones for his experience – but proceeded to [haul the defender off](https://www.skysports.com/football/sheff-utd-vs-man-utd/teams/408108) before the start of the second half.

That would suggest Solskjaer’s and Keown’s assessments of his performance were along the same lines, while his [WhoScored match rating](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376029/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Sheffield-United-Manchester-United) of 5.62/10 – the lowest in the United squad – appeared to confirm his short-lived yet torrid evening.

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***United fans, should Jones have played on Sunday? Let us know your thoughts below!***