Ferguson fears ref was pressured

Man Utd were unhappy Mike Riley did not give a penalty after Danny Welbeck went down in the box

Sir Alex Ferguson said comments from Everton boss David Moyes might have ultimately denied Manchester United a penalty in their FA Cup semi-final.

Referee Mike Riley did not give United a spot-kick when Danny Welbeck appeared to be fouled by Phil Jagielka, and Everton went on to win on penalties.

Everton boss David Moyes had queried the choice of Riley prior to Sunday.

Ferguson said: "I've no idea if it affected the decision, but it may have. It can prey on a referee's mind."

Riley's decision prompted Ferguson to storm angrily towards the pitch, but in his post-match media conference the United boss admitted there had been room for doubt over the decision.

"I've seen the video and it looks a penalty kick but in the importance of the game the referee probably has to be dead sure," added Ferguson.

"Why would Welbeck go down when he had the goalkeeper stranded out of his goal? It was a major decision and unfortunately it has gone against us. Nothing you can do about it. We have to move on now.

"When Riley sees it he'll probably realise he's made a mistake but I can't say that's the reason for us losing."

United captain Rio Ferdinand supported Ferguson's suggestion that referees are hesitating over giving the champions penalty decisions.

"We don't get many penalties these days," said Ferdinand. "Referees are reluctant to give them to us. Maybe they're are being put under pressure by people in the media."

Moyes had questioned the choice of Riley after it had been suggested he was a United supporter.

Riley was appointed to referee the match at Wembley after original choice Steve Bennett withdrew due to illness.

In January, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez had claimed that Ferguson is "the only manager who will not be punished" for verbally attacking referees, a comment which has sparked an on-going feud between the two managers.

But Moyes admitted that United had been unlucky not to have been given the penalty.

"I thought it looked a penalty kick," said Moyes. "If I had been the manager I would have been calling for a penalty kick."

Moyes was too nervous to watch Jagielka score the decisive penalty as Everton reached the FA Cup final for the first time in 14 years.

"I'm really, really pleased. I'm pleased for myself and the team but, more importantly, the supporters. They were fantastic," Moyes told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I have got to praise Manchester United because they gave us a real hard game. I know on another day they could have put another team out and it could have been even harder.

"But my players have given everything again today and they have done all season."

Everton's final clash with Chelsea on 30 May will be their first FA Cup final since 1995 and Moyes outlined his desires for silverware.

"What we're doing at Everton is we are preparing for success and today was a preparation for a final," he added.

"We have not won anything yet but we have given ourselves a real chance of doing it now."

Captain Phil Neville was gushing with pride after leading Everton to victory over his former club.

"We've beaten the best side in the world - it's just a really proud moment," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

And praising manager Moyes, Neville added: "The boss has stepped up to the mark. He wanted us to go out there and express ourselves.

"He gave us that confidence - now we need to go and win the Cup final."