Taggart getting his knickers in a twist: United boss says Carroll should have been red carded

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been keeping up his legendary standards of whingeing and hypocrisy by bleating to Sky Sports after last night's 2-2 draw with West Ham at the Boleyn Ground that Hammers star Andy Carroll should have been sent off for a challenge on Reds keeper David De Gea.

"It's an obvious red card but the referee has seen it differently," the Scotsman moaned in his post match interview. "We know how West Ham play, they're very, very aggressive so you hope there's a strong referee and I'm not sure we got that tonight."

Ferguson, strangely enough, made no mention of the petulant kick at Carroll by his star striker Wayne Rooney, nor the series of crunching tackles by the former Everton star which somehow, referee Lee Probert did not feel merited a card.

Carroll himself was quick to downplay the incident which occurred just before half time, stating that he "just went for the ball."

"I was running straight through for the ball and couldn't stop at that moment, obviously the keeper has come and won it and I couldn't stop when I was flying through the air," the 24 year old told Sky Sports after the game.

Strong referees, eh Alex? Could have done with one of those when your prodigal son did this a couple of seasons back..

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling