Carling Cup final: Lucky escape for Manchester Uniteds Nemanja Vidic

By Mark Ogden Published: 7:30AM GMT 01 March 2010

Flash point: Nemanja Vidic (left) fouls Gabriel Agbonlahor at Wembley Photo: PA

Manchester United, who defended the prize won on a chastisement shoot-out opposite Tottenham last season, fell at the behind of to James Milner"s fourth-minute chastisement after Vidic had fouled Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Vidic appeared to be the last defender when committing the foul, but whilst Dowd awarded the penalty, he unsuccessful even to book the Serbian.

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And nonetheless O"Neill refused to indicate that the preference valid main in the outcome of the game, he insisted that Dowd was wrong to concede Vidic to stay on the pitch.

O"Neill said: "I think it was solid for all to see. It was an irregular preference since there was a idea scoring event in the chastisement area. Anybody would unequivocally be wondering how he could come to any alternative conclusion, but there"s no point going on about it. It"s over now.

"It was a inapplicable designation from an differently unequivocally excellent arbitrate who has got it wrong. I"ve oral to Phil, but in dual or 3 days it"s all lost and we"re the losing finalists."

United physical education instructor Sir Alex Ferguson, who conceded that Vidic was "lucky not to be booked" for the foul, carried his 34th square of precious metal at Old Trafford after goals from Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney cancelled out Milner"s opener.

Ferguson had complacent Rooney in foster of Owen for the diversion prior to carrying to send on the England brazen prior to half-time as a outcome of Owen pang a hamstring.

Ferguson said: "I knew weeks ago that Wayne wouldn"t be personification in the final. This was a great event to give him a mangle since we have large games on Saturday [at Wolves] and subsequent Wednesday [against AC Milan].

"But Michael did unequivocally well for us and put in a unequivocally great performance. The soft representation currently didn"t assistance him, though."

Owen is expected to be out for at slightest dual weeks with his injury, but he will bear a indicate tomorrow to consider the full border of the problem.

He said: "I was patently unhappy to go off, but it was good to measure and of march I will be celebrating.

"This was a genuine possibility for me since I don"t begin each week, but it has still been a illusory deteriorate so far and I can"t complain about the injury. Hopefully I will be behind soon."

Rio Ferdinand, who longed for the diversion with a behind damage that has ruled him out of England"s accessible opposite Egypt on Wednesday, insists he will be fit for United"s joining outing to Wolves.

Ferdinand said: "I"m all right. I"ve been precision this week, but patently haven"t played any games to be fit sufficient to fool around for England.

"This ultimate complaint has usually been a teenager setback. Not personification is only being precautionary, to have certain it doesn"t get any worse.

"But I"m excellent now, no pain, no problems, nothing. It was motionless it was most appropriate for me to stay in Manchester and train, rather than with England, but I"ll be fit to fool around opposite Wolves if selected."