sport news Ian Wright claims Antony's swipe at Jeremy Doku shows under-fire Bruno ... trends now

Ian Wright believes Antony's petulant swipe at Jeremy Doku in the Manchester derby is directly related to Bruno Fernandes setting the wrong example as club captain.

The £82million signing was lucky to escape a red card after he appeared to kick out at the Manchester City winger in the closing stages of United's 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

Antony earned himself a yellow card for twice taking a swipe at Doku and then slapping the City player's arm away when he remonstrated.

And Wright believes the Brazilian's behaviour stemmed from Fernandes' example.

'Bruno sometimes just goes off and they’re not ready. It’s not good for the team,' he told The Kelly and Wrighty Show. 

‘Watching Antony come on and his contribution was to kick out at [Jeremy] Doku like that, but the example of the captain is seeping in. That’s the captain doing it.’

United were comprehensively outclassed by City at Old Trafford with Fernandes again coming under scrutiny for a perceived lack of leadership in the drubbing at the hands of the Premier League champions.

Speaking on the same show, former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves noted the boundaries between commitment and petulance can often become blurred where Fernandes is concerned.

‘I know he looks moody but I think he tried to kick out [to a City player] to show the fans he cares but it doesn’t come across in the right way and it frustrates a lot of people,' he said.

The former England international believes Erik ten Hag should shoulder some of the blame for the midfielder's behaviour in the Manchester derby.

‘[Ten Hag] gave it [the captaincy] to Bruno because he’s their most consistent player by a long shot but yesterday [Ten Hag] played him out of position. 

'Play him as a No.10 and drop another player. I think his frustration came a lot from not having any influence on

read more from dailymail.....