FA Cup: Ralf Rangnick baffled by handball goal after Middlesbrough knock out Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick said his team had themselves to blame for their FA Cup fourth-round exit to Middlesbrough while adding that the goal they conceded should not have stood.

United were dumped out of the FA Cup fourth round by Championship side Middlesbrough 8-7 on penalties after wasting a sackful of chances in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Friday.

Rangnick was left puzzled by Boro’s 64th-minute equalizer scored by Matt Crooks after the ball had clearly hit Duncan Watmore’s arm before he played the ball across goal.

That canceled out Jadon Sancho’s 25th-minute effort, although United should have already been out of sight with Cristiano Ronaldo missing a penalty as well as other chances and Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford also culpable.

In a tense penalty shoot-out, the sides could not be separated before Anthony Elanga blazed the 16th kick over the crossbar to send Boro’s fans wild.

While Rangnick lamented his side’s profligacy, he was understandably miffed by Boro’s equaliser.

“How can it be accidental if he controls the ball up in the air with his hand? It was clear it should not stand but in the end I was really surprised it stood,” Rangnick said.

“We conceded a goal which I don’t understand why it stood. He controlled it with his hand. In the moment when they scored, it was clear that VAR would not allow this goal to stand.”

The handball rule was tweaked for this season and now states “if an attacking player’s accidental handball immediately precedes another player scoring, the goal will now be awarded”.

Even Boro boss Wilder was surprised the goal had been allowed to stand after a VAR check.

“We rode our luck and took our chances. The decisions that are made through VAR have changed since I left the Premier League — I thought straight away it was handball,” he said.

“I thought it would be chalked out and delighted it wasn’t.”

Former Sheffield United manager Wilder’s main target this season since taking over in November is to get Boro into the playoffs and they are already up to seventh.