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Ferguson berated referee Mike Dean and two of his assistants at half-time of Wednesday’s game, after being angered that Newcastle’s second goal — a Jonny Evans own goal — was given despite Papiss Cisse being in an off-side position. Ferguson felt Dean should not have over-ruled his assistant, Jake Collin, who initially raised his flag for off-side, and berated both men, as well as fourth official Neil Swarbrick, as the teams re-emerged for the second half at Old Trafford.
“The referee changed the linesman’s mind,” Ferguson said afterwards. “He said it was an own goal. But if you see it again, and the referee can’t, the guy (Cisse) is in an off-side position, then he pulls Evans’ arm.
“If that is not interfering, what is? I think it was a bad decision.”
The English Premier League also issued a clarification, backing Dean’s decision, and explaining that “as Cisse did not play the ball, then he was not interfering with play”.
The league added: “It is also the case that Cisse didn’t interfere with the opponent.” The FA said no action would be taken against the United manager because Dean made no reference to the confrontation in his report on the match.
United’s victory, secured by a 90th-minute goal from Javier Hernandez, left Ferguson’s side seven points clear of second-place Manchester City in the Premier League.
But Manchester United’s victory over Newcastle United opened a seven-point gap at the top of the Premier League table, but the news was not all positive for Ferguson and his team.
The veteran manager revealed after the game that Wayne Rooney has a knee ligament injury that will sideline him for up to three weeks, having already ruled him out of an amazing game that saw Newcastle take the lead on three occasions, only to lose to Hernandez’s 90th-minute winning goal.
The contentious second goal restored Newcastle’s lead after Evans himself had equalised James Perch’s opening goal.
Patrice Evra scored a second equaliser for the home side, with Cisse handing Newcastle the lead for a third time, which was cancelled out by Robin van Persie before Hernandez settled the extraordinary affair.
The last three seasons have seen the team leading the table at Christmas go on to win the title and United’s seven-point advantage looks commanding, despite their defence continuing to struggle so badly.
“You have to be concerned, of course,” said Ferguson of his club’s defensive record.
“It’s only the courage of the team that has got us out of it again. Some of the football in the second half was phenomenal in these conditions — really great.
“The statement was the performance, never mind where we are at this moment in time. That was a championship performance.
“It’s a great quality to have and once again, they have proved their courage.
“They never gave in. Down three times and eventually they deserved to win game.”
Ferguson also has a number of injury concerns to contend with, as he prepares for tomorrow’s home meeting with West Bromwich Albion, topped by Rooney, who hurt himself when he volleyed a ball late in training on Christmas Day.
“Wayne has felt the ligament in the back of his knee in training — probably out for two or three weeks,” said the Scot. “It’s unfortunate because after his performance on Sunday (in a 1-1 draw at Swansea City), I thought he would be brilliant today (on Wednesday). He was desperate to play.”
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was left to bemoan his team’s own poor defensive performance.
The visitors came within inches of recording their first away victory of the season though, with Sammy Ameobi hitting the woodwork with five minutes left and the score tied at 3-3.
Pardew was also angered by a late challenge by Antonio Valencia that went unpunished by Dean but left his midfielder Vurnon Anita stretchered off with a bad ankle injury. — AFP.
Online Reporter