Ferguson Backs Referee Over Own-Goal Equaliser

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted referee Mark Clattenburg was right to award Scott Dann's own goal against Birmingham.

The goal was initially ruled out for an offside against Wayne Rooney but after consulting with his assistant, Clattenburg overturned the decision.

The controversial goal ultimately earned United a 1-1 at St Andrew's.

Ferguson said: "It's an obvious own goal and the referee had to allow it. I don't know what the linesman thought."

TV replays showed Rooney was just onside when Patrice Evra struck the initial shot that deflected off Dann.

Ferguson added: "It was clearly a own goal and the linesman flags for offside. I don't know what to say about that!"

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish was less certain the goal should have stood but agreed the officials had eventually made the correct decision.

"The linesman's flagged for it and we felt that if he flagged for it then it shouldn't be given," he said.

"I thought at the time that it should have been given offside. We thought Rooney interfered with the guy who put it in the net.

"But he looked onside on the replay so they've ultimately reached the right decision but in the wrong way!"

Ferguson was also unhappy at Clattenburg's decision to send off Darren Fletcher at St Andrew's.

The midfielder was cautioned in the first half for a rash challenge on Lee Bowyer but the foul on Cameron Jerome that earned him a second yellow looked less clear-cut.

"Darren's not that type of player," Ferguson said.

"I thought it was a terribly soft sending-off, he's barely clipped him.

"The boy was already falling. I don't think you'll see a softer sending off than that."

Dimitar Berbatov was left out of the United match-day squad before the game, prompting speculation that he been dropped.

But Ferguson revealed an injury had stopped the Bulgarian from featuring.

He added: "Berbatov's been carrying an injury. He's wanted to play with it but we felt just that we should try and get it sorted and get him fit again.

"He may have to have an exploratory operation."