Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had a touchline row with good friend Sam Allardyce after victory over Blackburn Rovers last night. A magnificent Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick was enough to give United a 2-1 win.

But Blackburn were aggrieved Ronaldo was still on the pitch after escaping a booking for a petulant kick at David Dunn.

As he went on to pick up a yellow card for a dive, the Rovers camp knew the world player of the year might have been sent off.

And irritation turned to fury later on as Rafael Da Silva put his hands on Morten Gamst Pedersen's shoulders inside the area, only for referee Howard Webb to rule there had been no foul as the Norwegian hit the ground.

"The boy Pedersen dived," argued Ferguson.

"There is no question about that at all. Yet Cristiano Ronaldo gets booked for the same thing and Pedersen doesn't.

"Both cases were the same. You have to give either a penalty or a yellow card."

Ferguson and Allardyce clearly reached differing conclusions.

"You would have to ask Howard Webb about the kick on Dunn. It was 56 minutes," said Allardyce.

"As far as Pedersen goes, Sir Alex has his opinion, I have a different one.

"Unfortunately, most clubs might not get a decision like that here. It wasn't a blatant one but it was a penalty. Pedersen got pulled and tugged."