Sir Alex Ferguson accused referee Andre Marriner of
dismissing Paul Scholes purely on reputation during the 3-1 win
over Tottenham.
Manchester United ended Spurs' 100 [er cemt start to the season
with goals from Ryan Giggs, Anderson and Wayne Rooney but they had
to play the final half an hour with 10 men after Scholes was sent
off for two bookings.
The veteran midfielder was cautioned for clattering Jermain
Defoe and a slide on Tom Huddlestone, although Ferguson felt it was
an unfair second yellow card.
He said: "It was terrible sending off, I think the referee got
it wrong. I have looked at the video twice and I don't see any
sending off.
"The Tottenham player is the one who has committed the real
foul. Scholesy was a foot above him. He's never touched him. He's
been sent off because his name is Paul Scholes. That is why he was
sent off. It was a ridiculous decision.
"It could have mattered. You are down to 10 men against
Tottenham and only have a one-goal advantage. It's not easy."
Defoe had given Spurs the lead with less than a minute on the
clock with a spectacular scissor-kick, then Giggs levelled with a
free-kick.
Giggs told ESPN: "It was always going to be a tough game,
especially after the internationals, you don't know how players are
going to react - but we played really well today.
"They started really sharply, closing us down and obviously the
goal.
"But after that we recovered and after I scored I think we
controlled the game really well."
Anderson's goal was his first for United, then Rooney wrapped up
the scoring.
"With 10 men it is always tough, they have a lot of the ball and
you have to defend really well," Giggs added.
"They have a lot of attacking options so when you are down to 10
men you just try to get behind the ball and get a breakaway goal,
and that's what we got."
Ferguson felt it was one of United's strongest performances of
the season.
"It was probably the best we have seen of us this season, given
the fact that we were a goal down after one minute," he said.
"We had to gather our game and show composure."
Spurs had won their previous four league games but their run
comes to an end.
Boss Harry Redknapp said: "I have never got carried away. It's
still a great start, 12 points from five games. It wasn't an easy
start for us in terms of games this season, with Liverpool and Man
United at home, but I fancied us to get something.
"We had a fantastic start and we were seeing three points again.
But we knew they would come back - that's why they win titles and
European titles. They have outstanding players - (Darren) Fletcher
was fantastic, I thought."
Redknapp, however, believes Manchester City could be surprise
challengers this season.
"City will threaten everyone," he said.
"They have to with the players they have brought in. It will be
interesting game between City and United next week, they look like
they can beat anyone.
"I tried to sign three or four of them but I couldn't get near
them.
"Lescott, Toure, Adebayor, Barry are top players. It will be an
interesting title race. They could do anything, anything's
possible. They have a strong enough squad."