TOTTENHAM 1, MAN UNITED 1.
Sir Alex Ferguson made a scathing attack on the match officials as Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds’ manager was incensed that his side was denied a second-half penalty venting his anger at assistant referee Simon Beck.
Ferguson was also furious about Spurs’ stoppage-time winner from Clint Dempsey claiming Rafael was fouled in the build up.
The penalty that never was came just after the hour mark when substitute Wayne Rooney, who had only just come in, appeared to be brought down by Steven Caulker.
Ferguson said: “It was a clear penalty. It was definitely a penalty. He has put his leg in there.
“The linesman is facing it. I thought he had a very poor game. I thought he was disappointing.”
He also accused Beck of failing to spot a foul in the move that brought about Spurs’ equaliser.
Ferguson went on to berate Beck further by saying he was the official who failed to flag Didier Drogba for offside in 2010 when Chelsea won 2-1 at Old Trafford.
He continued: “We have got history with him. He never gave offside with Drogba at Old Trafford where he was three yards offside.
“Everybody remembers that. I certainly do.”
Jermain Defoe was denied early on by a smart save from David De Gea before United took the lead midway through the opening period.
Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley combined and, from the latter’s cross, Robin van Persie headed home his 18th Premier League goal and 22nd overall of the campaign.
United held on to their lead until the break thanks De Gea who pulled off super stops to deny Defoe and Gareth Bale.
Clint Dempsey was thwarted twice by De Gea as the Spaniard was proving unbeatable.
Defoe found himself clean through only for Rio Ferdinand to save the day with a tackle which prevented a certain goal.
Bale had a shot deflected just wide off Ferdinand as Spurs cranked up the pressure.
It looked as though United would leave White Hart Lane with three points until Spurs snatched a point in the third and final minute of stoppage time.
De Gea was at fault flapping at a cross and Aaron Lennon set up Dempsey to slot in the leveller to leave United stunned.