Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has bemoaned his side's 1-0 defeat away at West Brom as a big blow, while stressing he believes the referee should have thought twice before sending Juan Mata off.

The Red Devils dominated possession in the early stages at the Hawthornes, but the match turned on its head when Mata was sent off in the 26th minute.




The Spaniard first received a yellow card for blocking a free-kick, while three minutes later he then fouled Darren Fletcher and received his second yellow, in a moment of madness.

West Brom tried to take advantage and did have some success, but they could not find a way through a stubborn Manchester United defence before half time.
 


In the second half West Brom cranked up the pressure and got their reward in the 66th minute when Salomon Rondon scored.

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Manchester United had no answer and went down to defeat, with Van Gaal bemoaning Mata's sending off as completely out of character.

"What can I say when you send off a player like Mata? I have asked him if it's his first red card and he said yes", the Dutchman told the BBC.

"When you do that you give the first and second yellow within five minutes.

"You can do it according the rules but I think the referee has to know the person doing it. I don't think Mata has ever had bad tackles and something like that", Van Gaal explained.

"You know the first one is a stupid yellow card and then you have to be aware the referee can give a second yellow card. A referee has to decide within one second but when you know the player, Mata never hurts a player."

The Manchester United boss does not however feel his side looked in danger despite being one man down, though he admitted the extra man did count for West Brom, while his side's defeat, which leaves them three points off fourth placed Manchester City, is a blow.

"When you have to play 75 minutes with 10 players. I don't think we were so uncomfortable.

"We had several chances to score so it's always more difficult when you play 10 against 11. It's always very difficult for a team to play against 11.

"The loss is a big blow because it was not necessary. When you see the first half it was not necessary I think."