MANCHESTER — David Moyes launched a blistering attack on referee Howard Webb after the official’s decision not to award Manchester United a penalty left the champions’ title hopes in tatters.
By Daily Mail
Tottenham Hotspur inflicted United’s sixth Premier League football defeat of the season with a 2-1 victory on New Year’s Day and Moyes’ side are now 11 points behind league leaders’ Arsenal.
Moyes was left furious after Ashley Young was cleaned out by Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 87th minute, as United chased an equaliser after falling 2-0 behind with goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen.
Danny Welbeck’s clipped finish offered United hope but they were deprived of a golden opportunity to equalise when Webb waved away the late penalty appeal. “It was scandalous,” Moyes fumed.
“If you follow through on a player anywhere else on the pitch with your foot high, it would be a sending off and a red card. The goalkeeper comes out, Ashley Young gets the ball before him and he follows through. It’s an incredible decision which didn’t go our way, in fact probably the one of the worst I think I have seen. “All I can tell you is that is a stonewall penalty kick.”
The United manager was also angry with Webb’s decision to caution Adnan Januzaj for a perceived dive after a challenge by Danny Rose on the edge of the Tottenham penalty area.
“Have you seen that decision?” The United boss fumed, “That is a terrible decision. Adnan has got bumped, the boy (Danny Rose) has tried to edge him off the ball and it is a terrible decision.
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“You would hope the people who put the referees out there would have a look at it and see if they think the referees are doing as well as they can do.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham captain Michael Dawson believes Tim Sherwood has given Tottenham their belief back by playing the sort of attacking football which gave them a 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
The rejuvenated Emmanuel Adebayor gave Tottenham a first-half lead and although Danny Welbeck replied almost immediately after Christian Eriksen made it 2-0 midway through the second half, Spurs hung on to deal United a fourth home defeat of the season.
“I think the work rate of the boys in front of us was magnificent from start to finish today,” Dawson told BT Sport.
“When you come to Old Trafford you have to ride the pressure and we did that, especially after going 2-0 up and giving a goal away immediately. That was disappointing, but we dug deep. It was a fantastic effort.”
Sherwood has now taken 10 points from a possible 12 since replacing Andre Villas-Boas, and his attacking philosophy was again evident as he partnered Adebayor with Roberto Soldado, who squandered a fine chance to make it 2-0 late in the first half.
“Tim, Chris (Ramsey,) Les (Ferdinand, both first team coaches), since they’ve come in they’ve done a great job,” Dawson added.
“We’re playing two up front, Ade’s scoring goals alongside Robbie, it’s different class and we’re on the front foot. I thought we could have done better on the ball today, but our work rate was top class.”
The win lifts Tottenham above United into sixth place, eight points from leaders and rivals Arsenal, and two points outside the top four.
Dawson insists the team never lost belief they could compete for a Champions League place and perhaps even the title.
“We’ve always believed that from day one until now,” he said.
