Manchester United: Chris Smalling insists Dimitri Payet should have been sent off for simulation

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling believes West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet should have received a second yellow for simulation before he scored the opening goal for the Hammers in the FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford. Anthony Martial's goal brought parity in the game minutes before the final whistle, which forced the FA Cup tie into a replay, keeping United's hopes alive of winning a trophy this season.

Payet was already on a yellow when he fell inside the penalty box under a challenge from Marcos Rojo and Smalling believes that if his shout was not deemed a penalty, it should have been another caution for the Frenchman, who had an important part to play in the result. With a man down, United would have found it easier to win the game and progress into the semi-finals at Wembley where they will be pitted against Everton.

Martin Atkinson was in charge of proceedings at Old Trafford and Smalling believes that more often than not such action was worthy of a yellow card, something which was not brandished this time around. However, the defender refused to attribute that incident for the insipid display of the Red Devils and has his eyes set on a better offering when the two meet again in the replay.

"I've heard there was no contact and, to be fair, it should have been another yellow card," Smalling said, as quoted by Goal. "But there are many decisions in a game and it's one that didn't go our way.

"I think if they're not going to give a penalty, then it has got to be diving, really, hasn't it? I think more often than not, if you dive you do get a yellow card. Obviously on this occasion it didn't happen but we won't pin the game on the one decision."