Man Utd vs Spurs: Alex Ferguson's comment to Roy Carroll after Pedro Mendes ghost goal | OneFootball

With Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur squaring off on Wednesday night, lest we forget Pedro Mendes, Roy Carroll, the ghost goal and one of the most bizarre Premier League moments.

Given the game was over 17 years ago (January 4th, 2005 to be precise), exact details of what happened might be a bit hazy, so here’s a quick run-through.

Manchester United and Spurs were in the late stages of a largely dull game that seemed destined to finish in a 0-0 stalemate when Carroll and Mendes gave everyone something to talk about at the death.

VIDEO: Roy Carroll, Pedro Mendes and the ghost goal

With so many men forward as they pushed for a late winner, a ball cleared away by Spurs led to Carroll charging forward to get it. Ederson or Allison he was not, and his passing ability is what led to the mess that ensued.

A bit of pinball in the air between players led to the ball dropping at the feet of Pedro Mendes. With Carroll scampering back, he launched the ball at his goal, a Hail Mary up and under shot if ever there was one.

Carroll just about got back and seemed to have it covered until he did not – the ball flying out of his chest and arms and clearly into the goal. Well, clearly to everyone bar the person who mattered. The linesman somehow missed it despite the entire ground recognising an epic clanger had taken place.

Carroll’s reactions were cat-like it must be said, and his face told you he knew he’d somehow gotten away with one, and Spurs had been denied a first league win at Old Trafford in 16 years.

Sir Alex let him off the hairdryer treatement.

The Northern Irish stopper later discussed the incident on the UTD Podcast in 2020, touching on his thoughts before, during and after the incident as well as the reaction of Sir Alex Ferguson to it all.

“It was one of those idiot moments of a goalkeeper who, you’re running back and it’s an easy ball to catch, but I’m looking to throw the ball out to Gary Neville instead of keeping my eye on the ball as it’s come into my chest.

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“I always say to young ones: ‘Make sure you react to anything’. As that ball went over my shoulder I still reacted and kept it from going over the line, which was fantastic for me,”

“To be fair to Sir Alex he asked what happened and I said: ‘Boss, I took my eye off the ball; I wasn’t concentrating.’ He said my reactions were good. I thought I was going to get the hairdryer treatment - I never saw the hairdryer treatment actually, so I can’t say anything about that.”

It was for incidents like this that goal-line technology was introduced to the Premier League during the 2013/14 season, and looking back, it’s crazy to think it wasn’t sooner.

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