Alex Ferguson Defends Rooney

Alex Ferguson has defending Wayne Rooney’s pleas for a red card that saw Vincent Kompany sent off during yesterday’s FA Cup clash between Manchester United and Manchester City.

They had played little over ten minutes when Kompany was given his marching orders after a two footed challenge on Nani.

While Kompany didn’t make contact with Nani or bring him down the referee brandished a straight red card leaving City to play the next eighty minutes with just ten men.

But Ferguson has come to the defence of Rooney, who scored twice in United’s 3-2 win over their local rivals, calling his shout for a red card a ‘natural reaction’.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match Ferguson said: "I have no concerns about the behaviour in that respect because to my mind it was a reckless challenge and Nani is a very lucky boy because he didn't get a bad injury.

"I have no complaints about Wayne, I don't think it was unacceptable what he did. I think it was a natural reaction to a bad challenge from an opponent.

"But I can understand where Roberto's coming from because that's what happens with players today, they all appeal for penalties or players to be sent off, it's an unfortunate part of our game."

United were comfortably leading 3-0 at half time, Rooney scoring his second goal of the afternoon from the penalty spot.

But City managed to turn the momentum in their favour in the second half as United sat back a little to come within a whisker of levelling at 3-3.

United will now face Liverpool in the fourth round.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw