What I don’t understand and still don’t, is the discrepancy. If the official adds 1 minute on for Man City’s goal, why did he not add 1 minute on after the United goal? This surely is unfair?

Also, I’m not at all convinced that there should have been 4 minutes of injury time in the first place. I cannot remember many stoppages to be honest, that game was so good it seemed to race by in an instant.

This isn’t a Man City/Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea v Man Utd thing. I just don’t understand if the referee added a minute on to the time extra be played for the 4 goals scored up to Owen’s goal, why when Owen scored, did he only add on a few seconds?

That would stand if it had been City who scored the winner, or Arsenal, or Leyton Orient really. It isn’t a criticism of United, just how the officials worked out what time was left. However as this is discretionary, then they have the perfect answer of course. However that doesn’t make it right.

I can see why City are aggrieved and have questions. However don’t let that detract from what United did. Their determination for the win was admirable and is what makes them champions. That doesn’t come from any amount of added time, but a fierce will to win and quality at key times.

All I was questioning is why there are so many key decisions in recent times (Mendes goal that wasn’t, the penalty award against Tottenham last season, extra time against Aston Villa last season that again led to a winner, Neville’s antics against Liverpool and now City, Ronaldo’s blatant diving going largely unpunished, Mascherano’s sending off to name but a few) always seem to go United’s way? And yes, you can do the same for all the other big clubs in the Premier League at home. Which is why I asked if referees rule by fear at these grounds, I used United as an example mainly because of the City game being recent news. I could have done the same for all of the top sides I think. It isn’t a United issue, it’s an officiating one.

Now that we are in agreement that Owen’s goal (5 min 26sec) was within the time alloted (5 Min. 30 sec), if I understand you correctly, you are arguing for an extra minute to be given for Owen’s celebration? Here’s why that doesn’t make sense. If there are 4 seconds left on the clock, once the game is restarted, why does the referee need to add 1 min? He should only play 4 seconds after the restart. Which he did.

You second argument is the conduct of the Wiley and why he dismissed Hughes and was ‘cosy’ to SAF. Without having a pitchside transcript, it is impossible to say why Wiley was smiling at SAF’s remark. I am positive that Wiley, or any other 4th official for that matter, would be more receptive to what seemed like a quip, rather than spitting rage directed at the person.

What you need to pay attention to is the manner in which city scored. They scored with a really bad Foster play, and an equally bad Ferdinand play. And don’t forget how Tevez missed an open goal. And how Berbatov should’ve burried at least 1 of his 5 chances. As SAF said, it could’ve been 6 or 7. But ‘if’ is a very big word.

Any ManCity/Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea fan arguing that ManUtd got more time than deserved, or that officials were cosy towards SAF, is not only deluded, but is wearing blinkers over their eyes on the lack of performance of their own teams.

Bellamy scores and so the referee adds on one full minute.

Michael Owen scores and celebrates (lets not forget Gary Neville and Fergie and co all joined in too) and the referee adds on a total of 16 extra seconds?

Where is the fairness and equality in that?

So if Man City equalise, United get an extra minute, but when United went in front, City only get a maximum of 16 extra seconds and at the same time as this Sir Alex is having a cosy up to Alan Wilkie on the sideline, just seconds after he’s dismissed Mark Hughes?

That United get an extra minute added after City score, and city just get seconds after United score doesn’t seem fair to me at all.

1. The Ref indicates 4 mins of stoppage time.
2. That despicable, but extremely talented, ‘Welsh fellow’ scores and celebrates for a minute (Time left is now 4min + 1min = 5min)
3. Carrick subs in (Time left is 5min + 30seconds= 5min 30s)
4. Owen scores at 95 min 26 sec (5 min 26 sec is 4 seconds less than the alloted 5 min 30sec.)
5. Time left is 4 sec…why did the ref give an extra 16 seconds? for ManCity to try and score?

In conclusion, the time alloted for extra time was accountable and transparent. In fact, ManUtd have a case of bias AGAINST them as 16 extra seconds were played.

Now stop this nonsense about how ManUtd benefitted. That is all.

It also doesn’t sit well with me to see the fourth official dismiss Mark Hughes complaints with a wave of his hand in one moment, then seconds later be seen sharing a joke with Sir Alex at the side of the pitch.