Ronaldo sees red for a moment of madness

CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s careless hands made referee Howard Webb brandish a red card as Manchester United beat bitter rivals City 1-0 in yesterday’s derby showdown at Eastlands.

Already cautioned, the man expected to be named European Footballer Of the Year today inexplicably parried Wayne Rooney's corner with his hands, leaving Webb little alternative other than to send him off on the same ground Steve Bennett dismissed him three seasons ago.

"He was trying to protect himself from the ball hitting him in the face," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

"He thought he had heard a whistle, he got a little push as well and it is not as if he punched the ball.

"If that had been outside the box it would have been a free–kick and nothing else, but the crowd played a part and he got sent off.

"Sometimes you have to overcome these things and we overcame a lot today."

As Ronaldo is banned for Wednesday's Carling Cup encounter with Blackburn at Old Trafford – when he would not have played anyway – his misdemeanour has not proved costly.

Of more significance to United will be Patrice Evra's absence from the Premier League encounter with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on December 13 after the French full–back collected his fifth booking of the season.