One of the worst I've seen! Furious Moyes launches attack on Webb's 'scandalous' decision not to award Young penalty
By Adam Crafton
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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.
Tottenham Hotspur inflicted United's sixth Premier League 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 the hosts chased an equaliser after falling 2-0 behind with goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Moyes: Decision not to award Young a penalty is scandalous
Scandalous: David Moyes was furious after Howard Webb failed to award Ashley Young a penalty
Felled: Winger Young goes down in the area under the challenge of Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris
Manchester United 1 Tottenham 2
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.'
Furious: Manchester United manager David Moyes runs on to the pitch to protest at Webb's decision
Stonewall: Moyes described Webb's decision not to award a penalty as one of the worst he'd seen
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.'
‘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.’
Booked: Referee Webb adjudged Adnan Januzaj to have dived and showed the playmaker a yellow card
Too little, too late: Danny Welbeck found the net but his strike wasn't enough to get United back in the game
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 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.
All smiles: Tottenham captain Michael Dawson believes Tim Sherwood has given Spurs their belief back
Rejuvenated: Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor climbs above Chris Smalling to power Spurs ahead
'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.
Good start: Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood acknowledges the crowd after masterminding Spurs' victory
'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 is 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.
Advantage doubled: Midfielder Christian Eriksen edges ahead of Antonio Valencia to nod home
Big win: Eriksen celebrates scoring the winner with Roberto Soldado (left) and Aaron Lennon (centre)
'We've had some hard days, at Manchester City (a 6-0 loss), and Liverpool (5-0) but we've stuck together and with the quality in that dressing room we'll always be up there.
Sherwood was able to find a few complaints about his team's performance but was again delighted with the application of a squad short on numbers.
'I thought we could have been a bit better and moved the ball a bit sharper, particularly in the first half because they were there for the taking,' he said.
'We had good opportunities to get the ball into the number 10 position and we didn't do that regularly enough today but games can be won on different qualities and we showed the heart of a lion today.'
GRAHAM POLL'S VERDICT
58 minutes: Danny Welbeck dives to try to win a penalty, although his act of simulation does not compare with Oscar’s at Southampton. The initial view is that Vlad Chiriches makes no contact and a yellow card for Welbeck is appropriate. But replays show very slight contact and so, according to FIFA guidelines, this falls into the category of exaggeration not simulation and Webb is correct to wave play on.
83 minutes: Webb, who has been unfairly accused of favouring United in the past, turns down a strong penalty appeal when Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris races from his goal to close down Ashley Young. Lloris makes no contact with the ball but brings Young down after he crosses the ball. Technically a penalty.
88 minutes: Webb cautions United’s Adnan Januzaj for a dive - yet another yellow card for simulation for the young man and further evidence of how this offence is so prevalent in our game.
Click here to read Graham Poll's full verdict on the controversy on New Year's Day
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Polycrates, Dili, Timor-Leste, 8 hours ago
Well done Spurs