GRAHAM POLL: One-man wrecking ball Carroll should have been sent off... Fergie has every right to complain

By Graham Poll for the Daily Mail

Published: 05:41 EST, 18 April 2013 | Updated: 06:14 EST, 18 April 2013


Critics often say that Manchester United are beneficiaries of any refereeing decisions, well they were not last night at Upton Park.

Sir Alex Ferguson was absolutely right to say that Andy Carroll should have been dismissed for his challenge on goalkeeper David de Gea.

The criteria for assessing what constitutes a red card challenge are: is it made at pace, is the perpetrator in control of his movement and did it endanger the safety of the opponent?

Collision course: Andy Carroll and David de Gea came together from a corner in the first half

Collision course: Andy Carroll and David de Gea came together from a corner in the first half

Face-to-face: There's no going back as the Spanish keeper and the England striker hurtle towards each other

Face-to-face: There's no going back as the Spanish keeper and the England striker hurtle towards each other

Smack! De Gea comes off far worse as Carroll smashes into him, with Patrice Evra sandwiched underneath

Smack! De Gea comes off far worse as Carroll smashes into him, with Patrice Evra sandwiched underneath

The pictures are pretty damning and the injury De Gea sustained backs up the United boss – not that injuries suffered are always proof of the need to dismiss players.

Ferguson told Sky Sports after the match: 'I think it's obvious, I don't think we need to dwell on that, it's an obvious red card but the referee has seen it differently.

'We know how they play, the ball is in the air most of the time. You've got to defend those things and they're very, very aggressive so you hope there's a strong referee. I'm not so sure we got that tonight.'

Grounded: Phil Jones, Robin van Persie and Rio Ferdinand appeal as those involved crash to the pitch

Grounded: Phil Jones, Robin van Persie and Rio Ferdinand appeal as those involved crash to the pitch

Furious: Sir Alex Ferguson remonstrates with an official after referee Lee Probert failed to show a yellow card

Furious: Sir Alex Ferguson remonstrates with an official after referee Lee Probert failed to show a yellow card

I was interested to hear the comments on the radio following the game in which Michael Owen and the BBC Radio 5 Live analysts both agreed that it was a red card offence but that neither had thought so at the moment of the incident.

Clearly the referee, Lee Probert, was of the same opinion and yet because it was an on the ball incident yet again the FA disciplinary department will be powerless to act.

How many more cases are required for them to see the need to change the review process?

Round two! Carroll was booked for this collision with De Gea early in the second half

Round two! Carroll was booked for this collision with De Gea early in the second half

Given the elbow? Carroll and Vidic go up for the ball and the West Ham striker appears to catch his opponent

Given the elbow? Carroll and Vidic go up for the ball and the West Ham striker appears to catch his opponent

Carroll and Vidic
Friends again: Carrol gives De Gea a hug at the final whistle

Friends again: Carroll gives De Gea a hug at the final whistle