abusive manager?

Alex Ferguson launched a furious attack on referee Martin Atkinson after his decision to award a controversial free-kick sent Manchester United crashing to a 1-0 defeat at title rival Chelsea yesterday.

Atkinson ruled that Darren Fletcher's 76th-minute challenge on Ashley Cole was worthy of a foul even though the Scot appeared to win the ball and, from the resulting Frank Lampard set piece, John Terry headed in the winner.

Ferguson's side are now five points behind Chelsea and the United manager, who also claimed Didier Drogba fouled Wes Brown as the free-kick was taken, had no doubts that Atkinson was to blame for his team's third defeat of the season.

"Clearly, Darren Fletcher's won the ball, Ashley Cole (was) never touched and has jumped up in the air, and then (Didier) Drogba's pulled Brown to the ground for the goal," Ferguson said.

"The referee's position to make the decision was absolutely ridiculous, he can't see anything. He's got a Chelsea player (Joe Cole) standing right in front of him and he doesn't even move.

"That goal shouldn't have been allowed. It was a bad decision, but there's nothing we can do about it. You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that's the way the players are talking in there. It was a bad one."

Ferguson insisted United had been the better team but he conceded it had only itself to blame for failing to create clear-cut chances despite dominating possession. Such actions are unacceptable and not exemplary.