Robson Backs Sir Alex Ferguson

By Matthew Jones
August 25 2003

Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson has defended counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson after the Old Trafford Boss was sent into the stands during the clash at St James' Park.

Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson has defended counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson after the Old Trafford Boss was sent into the stands during the clash at St James' Park.

It was just 24 minutes into the match when Sir Alex was sent out from the dug-out after he reacted angrily towards referee Uriah Rennie's decision not to send off Newcastle's Andy O'Brien for a bad challenge on Ryan Giggs.

O'Brien was the last man and by law, he should have gone.

Robson said: "We had a bit of luck with Andy O'Brien, I make that point.

"Sometimes you get them against you, sometimes they go for you. It will happen many many times this season.

"The referee was behind the play, maybe couldn't see it quite clearly, got no support from the linesman on it, no flag, so he played safe. I understand that, but it was a point on which we were a bit lucky, I guess.

"I believe he [Ferguson] watched the game from my office, which has just been repainted, just for him. He had coffee and biscuits and bacon and egg sandwiches, I believe, and saw his team win."

---