Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson pointed the finger at the Manchester City crowd for getting Cristiano Ronaldo sent off.
It was Ronaldo's second red card on City's patch, having been sent off by referee Steve Bennett in January 2006.
The Reds winger was shown his first yellow card in the 59th minute for a trip on Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Nine minutes later he climb
ed to meet a Wayne Rooney corner, but then bizarrely used both hands to pat the ball away.
Official Howard Webb issued him with a second caution that forced the red. Ronaldo, who seemed to indicate that he thought he had heard the referee whistle before the handball, will now miss United's Carling Cup match with Blackburn at Old Trafford on Wednesday as a red card under any circumstances comes into immediate effect.
It is hardly a great hardship as the 23-year-old was unlikely to be selected against Rovers.
Nevertheless it saw the Reds having to survive over 20 minutes in the derby with 10 men though they managed to hold on to win 1-0 courtesy of Wayne Rooney's 100th career goal.
"Cristiano was trying to protect himself from the ball hitting him in the face," said Sir Alex Ferguson.
"He got a little push as well. It is not as if he punched the ball. If that had been outside the box it would have been a free-kick and nothing else.
"The crowd played a part and have got him sent off."
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