Bruno Fernandes has sent social media into meltdown after ‘diving’ to win a penalty against Wigan.

Manchester United advanced to the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-0 victory over Lancashire rivals, albeit it would have been a tense end had Fernandes not decided against some late antics.

Bruno Fernandes appeared to dive to win a penalty against Wigan

Fernandes went down easily after being fouled by Liam Shaw

Referee Taylor gave himself a second before giving the decision

Fernandes stroked home the penalty to put Man Utd 2-0 up

The Portugal midfielder was savaged for his play-acting on social media

The midfielder received the ball in the box and feigned to shoot, cleverly dummying his way past Latics star Liam Shaw, who looked to block the non-existent shot.

Shaw’s trailing foot nicked Fernandes’ right boot and although the ex-Sporting Lisbon star seemed barely affected by the contact, he tucked his legs and tumbled to the ground like a kid bombing into a swimming pool.

Referee Anthony Taylor paused for a second or two before pointing to the spot, much to the bemusement of Wigan’s players, and indeed, fans on X, one of whom branded Fernandes’ antics “pathetic”.

“It’s pathetic that Fernandes needs to dive in a game like this,” one fan wrote.

Another laughed: “Hahaha to beat little old Wigan he had to dive like that, clown.”

A third moaned: “Fernandes will dive against anyone.”

A fourth fumed: “Bruno Fernandes having to dive against the team 18th in the Championship,”

While a fifth raged: “Nice to see football is officially a non-contact sport. That’s a sickening dive from Fernandes. None of this ‘he got touched’ bollocks. That’s a dive, plain and simple.”

Fernandes converted the resulting to penalty, adding to Diogo Dalot’s first half strike, to send the Red Devils through to the fourth round. There, they’ll face the winners of Newport County vs Eastleigh.

The victory was a welcome one for Erik ten Hag’s men, who had only won twice since the end of November heading into tonight’s game