Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admits he was wrong over his "12th man" comments after defeat at Chelsea.

United still dispute the free-kick awarded against Darren Fletcher for a foul on Ashley Cole when replays showed he played the ball.

Didier Drogba then tussled with Wes Brown as the pair tried to reach a Frank Lampard corner that John Terry flicked into the bottom corner.

Rooney has done a lot to curb the excesses of his temper but the sight of a TV camera as he made his way off the pitch was too much temptation.

"I probably should not have said it," he said. "I was disappointed at the end of the game and felt we deserved more out of it. Your emotions are high at the end."

At least it could have been worse. He could have launched into the type of rant Drogba gave vent to following Chelsea's elimination from the Champions League semi-finals last year.

"I felt we didn't get the decisions but that is the way it goes," Rooney added.

"It was probably our best performance of the season but it was a disappointing result."