Dalglish cries `goal' as United win

Kenny Dalglish, the Blackburn Rovers manager, described the decision that cost his side an equaliser in the 89th minute against Manchester United yesterday as "a disgrace".

"The television replay proved it was a goal," he said. "But things like that are supposed to even themselves out over the course of the season, so let's hope we get some decisions like that. Certainly we deserved to get something from the game.''

The referee, Paul Durkin, adjudged that Alan Shearer had pushed Roy Keane en route to Tim Sherwood beating Peter Schmeichel with a header. Dalglish, who was also angered by the sending off of Henning Berg when the teams met at Ewood Park in October, retorted: "If it had been a foul Keane would have reacted straight away. The only difference between the sides has been decisions by referees. Things like that can cost titles.''

Alex Ferguson, the United manager, disagreed. "The replays showed that Shearer gave Keane a little shove and gained an advantage, so how can it be a goal? If the `goal' had stood I would have been complaining. The referee blew immediately. Kenny asked for a strong referee before the match and he got his wish. We were the better team and created more chances. It would have been a travesty if we hadn't won.

"Particularly in the first half we played some very good football, we were back to near our best. But Blackburn must have been boosted at going in at half-time at 0-0,'' he said.

Talking about Eric Cantona's winner, he added: "I could not see a goal coming, to be honest, but it was magnificent header and Ryan Giggs must get some credit for his part. It was his determination and eagerness to tackle back that won the ball back for us. How Eric got ball in the net, I don't know. I've looked at it on television and still can't see how he did it.''

Match report, page 32