Alan Shearer claimed that referee Mike Dean had fallen foul of Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind games after Manchester United edged out troubled Newcastle 3-1 in a thrilling Premiership encounter in Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Dean awarded the visitors a hotly disputed penalty as Ferguson’s side condemned the north-east club to a fourth consecutive domestic defeat.
Shearer insisted Dean had been swayed by Ferguson’s pre-match claims that United do not receive the number of penalties they deserve after being denied one in last week’s goalless Manchester derby.
The Newcastle skipper told reporters after the defeat: ”Maybe he felt under pressure after Alex’s comments last Sunday. I think he was generous to them out there. At 1-1, they were rocking and we were looking to win the game, but the penalty changed it.”
Unsurprisingly, Ferguson backed Dean’s crucial 74th-minute decision as Ruud van Nistelrooy restored United’s lead from the spot, following Newcastle ‘keeper Shay Given’s foul on Paul Scholes, to cancel out Shearer’s equaliser four minutes earlier.
England striker Wayne Rooney rounded-off a deserved win with his second goal in injury time, after breaking the deadlock on eight minutes with a stunning close-range volley.
United are up to seventh in the table, and Ferguson said: ”I think Paul Scholes was brought down, and maybe there was even a handball before that by their right-back.
”It doesn’t make up for the one we didn’t get last week, because that was ridiculous, but we have to live with the ones that we’re not given. The breaks even themselves out.
”This is a very difficult place to come because Newcastle are a committed side and their fans are so passionate, they’re unbelievable. Teams will come here and won’t come away with what we have.”
Rooney is likely to escape punishment despite making gestures to the Newcastle crowd after his second goal three minutes into stoppage time, and Ferguson added: ”I thought some of our football was excellent.
”I was disappointed to lose a goal like we did, it was a bad one from our point of view, but the good thing was that we went up the other end of the park to score almost immediately.
”It was a very hard game for my players and they put everything into it, just as Newcastle did.”
Newcastle manager Graeme Souness claimed Dean had made an error with the match-turning penalty decision.
”We’re angry and frustrated. We got nothing from a game we feel we should have got something from.
”Wayne Rooney’s done well, he got a nudge on Andy O’Brien in the run-up to the penalty. I’m not so sure it’s a penalty when Shay collided with Scholes having watched the video.
”It was harsh on us but those things go against you when you’re struggling. They got the penalty and enjoyed a bit of luck at the right time.”
Ferguson may have all but written-off United’s Premiership title hopes, but Souness felt his fellow Scot had been a little hasty.
He added: ”United are still in with a shout of the Premiership title, it’s far too soon to write them off at this stage.
”They started better than us but we clawed our way back into it with some very good chances. It’s difficult when you’re losing games, especially when your football has been good enough to be winning games, but we have to remain focused.
”In terms of the football we’re playing, we should be getting more than we are at present. It’s easy to take the criticism to heart but that will put us further in the mire.” — Sapa-AFP