Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has slammed the assistant referee in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham for failing to award his side a penalty.
Ferguson fumed at the performance of linesman Simon Beck, who he referenced from an incident in April 2010 when Didier Drogba scored after not being given offside in a decisive game at Old Trafford in Chelsea’s title success that term.
It was the same official who did not flag for an apparent trip on Wayne Rooney from Steve Caulker in the 62nd minute of Sunday’s draw, before Clint Dempsey’s last-gasp leveller.
“The stand-side linesman didn’t give us a thing all day,” Ferguson said. “For me it was a poor performance by him.
“Why he never saw the penalty kick from Wayne Rooney and some other decisions … We remember him well from his time at the Chelsea game when Drogba was three yards offside and he gave onside.
“He had a shocking game. I’m disappointed in his performance, I really am. He had a bad game and we never got anything on that side of the pitch.”
The result sees United’s lead at the summit cut to five points from Manchester City, but Ferguson wasn’t too downbeat.
“Everyone would recognise that Tottenham was a difficult team. But we have [played] all the difficult games away from home so far, so I think we can be pleased on that part,” he said.
“Other teams will drop points here, there is no doubt about that. City still have to come here, I think. Tottenham are a very good team, very committed and will take points off the teams that maybe matter to us.”