Ferguson cries foul over equaliser

SIR Alex Ferguson vented his anger at referee Lee Mason despite Manchester United ending 2010 at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Ferguson was fuming after Mason did not disallow a last–minute equaliser by Birmingham midfielder Lee Bowyer in a 1–1 draw at St. Andrew’s.

The United boss felt Blues striker Nikola Zigic had handled the ball and committed a foul before Bowyer volleyed home from close range to cancel out Dimitar Berbatov’s 15th goal of the campaign.

Ferguson said afterwards: “The players have worked their socks off and they deserved to win that match, but it’s taken away from them by a bad decision.”

Berbatov produced a clinical piece of finishing to break the deadlock after a tame first half following good play by Darron Gibson, who was starting his first league game since April.

But Bowyer, who is 34 next week, had already scored the winner against Chelsea and his eye for a chance served him well again in the dying seconds.

United are ahead of Manchester City on goal difference but have two games in hand and are also seven points ahead of reigning champions Chelsea.