Paul Robinson criticises Lisandro Martinez after Chuba Akpom’s first Premier League goal

Former Tottenham and Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson has criticised Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez for the role he played in Chuba Akpom’s first Premier League goal during Ipswich Town’s 5-2 defeat at Old Trafford.

Manchester United recovered from falling behind to claim a convincing victory over the Tractor Boys, with the match producing a dramatic turnaround after half-time.

Ipswich took the lead in the 29th minute when Leif Davis found the net. Manchester United responded 11 minutes later, with Bruno Fernandes converting to level the score before the interval.

The home side then took control after the restart. Jacob Greaves put through his own goal to give United the lead, before Fernandes scored from the penalty spot in the 61st minute to extend their advantage.

Fernandes completed his hat-trick midway through the second half, while Bryan Mbeumo added a fifth for Manchester United in the 82nd minute.

Ipswich did manage to score once more in stoppage time. Akpom, who had entered the match at the beginning of the second half in place of Emerson, tapped the ball home after Julio Enciso dispossessed Martinez and created the opportunity.

The goal was Akpom’s first in the Premier League, although it came as little more than a consolation for Ipswich, who had been overwhelmed by Manchester United after the break.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live from Old Trafford, Robinson said Manchester United had allowed their concentration to drop in the closing stages. He singled out Martinez’s failure to deal with Enciso’s challenge as the moment that gave Ipswich and Akpom a simple chance.

Robinson’s assessment was that the Manchester United defender had been denied the protection he should have received, describing the incident by saying: “He was robbed”.

The criticism came despite a comfortable final scoreline for Manchester United. Their response after Davis had put Ipswich ahead ensured that the visitors’ early advantage quickly disappeared, with Fernandes playing the central role in the turnaround.

For Ipswich, the match followed two very different patterns. They were competitive enough to take the lead and remain level at half-time, but Manchester United’s attacking pressure after the interval produced four unanswered goals before Akpom’s late effort.

Akpom’s introduction provided Ipswich with a final moment of encouragement. After Enciso won possession from Martinez, he supplied the opening for the substitute to finish from close range in the first minute of added time.

The result therefore ended with Manchester United celebrating a five-goal victory, while Ipswich were left to reflect on a second half in which their promising position disappeared. Robinson’s comments focused on the defensive lapse that allowed Akpom to complete the scoring, with Martinez at the centre of the incident.