Jesse Lingard: Man Utd man ruined two fans' bet on him not to score or assist in 2019/20 | OneFootball

Jesse Lingard is playing the definition of a ‘bit-part role’ for Manchester United this season.

The midfielder hasn’t completed 90 minutes in any competition this season. And in the nine appearances he’s made in the Premier League, the most he’s played in a match is 24 minutes.

He was denied a move in the January transfer window and looks set for another few months on the United bench.

It’s been a tough few years at Old Trafford for Lingard.

His loan spell at West Ham last season, where he scored nine goals in 16 appearances, appears to be a flash in the pan as he fails to play consistently for United.

It was during the 2019/20 campaign that Lingard’s struggles really began.

Two seasons previously, he had scored 13 goals in 48 appearances – a career best. However, the following year he could only manage five goals.

That kind of form convinced some football fans to place a rather outrageous bet.

Ahead of the 2019/20 season, some supporters bet on Lingard NOT to score or assist a goal in the Premier League all season.

Pete Selby, placed £10 on it at 66/1 while another, Anthony Johnson, staked £3.30 at 40/1

The nature of the bet captured everyone’s attention – betting on a Man United player NOT to score or assist in an entire season is bizarrely brilliantly.

And it’s fair to say they both got a run for his money.

In fact, after the coronavirus pandemic forced the Premier League season into the summer, his bet was still alive come the end of July.

In the final match of the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side travelled to Leicester for a crucial game in their bid to finish in the top-four.

When Lingard came off the bench in the 77th-minute, Anthony was already fearing the worst as he tweeted: “Hahahahaha it’s going to happen isn’t it!!! Good luck @JesseLingard.”

And 97 minutes and 51 seconds into the final match of the campaign, Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel decided he would attempt to take it past Lingard.

However, Lingard stole the ball and rolled it into the empty net to put United 2-0 ahead.

Heartbreak.

But every story has a happy ending.

Paddy Power were class in their response and eventually paid out the winnings anyway.

While Anthony donated his £135.30 to Black Lives Matter, a certain Pete Selby will have been laughing as he won £670!

The two fans won their bets, Lingard got his first goal of the season, some money was donated to charity and Paddy Power got some good PR out of it it.