Man United 2-0 QPR: Offside blunder helps United on way to victory

QPR manager Mark Hughes has claimed Premier League managers are “losing faith in referees” following yet another staggering mistake that cost his side dearly at Manchester United yesterday.

Shaun Derry was sent off by referee Lee Mason for fouling Ashley Young inside the box, even though the United winger had clearly been offside when collecting a through ball from Wayne Rooney, who converted the penalty.

QPR chief executive Phil Beard was unimpressed with Young’s reaction to the minimal contact from Derry, tweeting: “Difficult to take after watching numerous replays, but Ashley Young could partner Tom Daley at the Olympics.”

The decision shaped a game United won 2-0 to take another major stride towards retaining their Premier League title, and leave QPR hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference.

However, after Wigan boss Roberto Martinez fumed at two offside calls that went against his team at Chelsea yesterday, Hughes confirmed there are some worried bosses. “You do discuss it before every game,” said Hughes, who confirmed QPR would appeal against the decision. “You worry more about decisions going against you and it shouldn’t be like that. You should have confidence that the referee will get the key decisions right. Just lately a lot of managers have lost faith in them.

“It is a difficult job. You have to be strong and really clear. You have to be 100% right to give the decisions. At the moment people are guessing and hoping that they get it correct. That was the case today.”

Even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Young was offside, although he did claim Derry’s early exit had a negative effect on his own side. He said: “Ashley was a yard offside and I understand why Mark is angry. There have been a lot of decisions like that in the last few weeks.

“It didn’t help us at all. I was more confident before the man was sent off because the speed of our play and the movement was very good. After that we were just in a comfort zone.”

As he looked for his team to exert more pressure on Manchester City, Ferguson feared the consequences of a late comeback as his side spurned a succession of opportunities. But United wrapped up victory midway through the second half when Paul Scholes capped a magnificent performance by driving home from 25 yards.

It means they can plot Wednesday’s trip to Wigan on the back of eight successive wins, their grip on the championship tightening all the time.