Dermot Gallagher: 'Referee not to blame for Tottenham Hotspur opener'

Former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher has played down suggestions that Andre Marriner should have restarted the Premier League fixture between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

Christian Eriksen gave Spurs the lead at Wembley Stadium after just 11 seconds, but Harry Kane made an early move into the United half and the Englishman's knockdown helped set up the goal.

However, Gallagher has claimed that Marriner was dealing with fine margins, while arguing that a number of players were in his line of vision.

Gallagher told Sky Sports News: "If you look at it, it is so fine. There are five players between the referee and Kane. Also, as the ball is about to be kicked, it is so tight that if the referee (Andre Marriner) blew and had it retaken and they had scored, people would say, 'Is he overzealous?'

"To the letter of the law, it should have been retaken, although you cannot blame this for the goal as it comes 11 seconds later, and 11 seconds is a long time."

Spurs went on to run out 2-0 winners in North London.