Nothing like an injury time own goal by the visitors to level the scoreline at Old Trafford that also sees Sir Alex questioning the referee’s fitness level and the amount of added time that should have been added in the post match interview…. And did Sunderland head coach and former United player Steve Bruce really refer to his former boss as the “Ayatollah”?

Via Guardian

Alan Wiley, the fourth official for last month’s controversial Manchester derby, was in charge at Old Trafford this afternoon as an own-goal from Anton Ferdinand allowed United a 2-2 draw.

“I was disappointed with the referee,” said Ferguson. “He didn’t add on any time for the goal. He played four minutes and two seconds.

“He was also walking up the pitch for the second goal needing a rest. He was not fit enough for a game of that standard. The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit. It is an indictment of our game.

“You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher’s dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn’t fit. He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He was needing a rest. It was ridiculous.”

Ferguson twice headed to the touchline during the second half to make his feelings known about controversial decisions. At one point, after he felt Anderson was denied a penalty, he jabbed his finger at the fourth official Mike Dean and then pointed angrily to the pitch.

Sunderland were reduced to 10 men after Kieran Richardson was sent off for kicking the ball away, a decision that angered the Sunderland players, but not the manager Steve Bruce.

“It was stupid,” said Bruce. “It is hard enough to defend here with 11 players. These things happen in the heat of the moment but it could have cost us the game.”

United used the dismissal to have one last assault at the visitors’ goal, with Ferdinand the unlucky man as he deflected Evra’s shot past Craig Gordon.

“It is totally disappointing,” said Bruce. “I don’t know what the stat is for the number of times Manchester United have done that but it is what makes this club what it is I suppose. It just proves you have to go down to the wire.

“Even when they don’t play well, they always seem to get something out of it. And the Ayatollah himself just sits there and watches. That is what he has brought to the club. They never give in.”