Neville is astonished as the red card is pulled out at Oakwell
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says defender Gary Neville's sending off in the 2-0 Carling Cup win at Barnsley was the correct decision.
Only a day after admitting a charge of improper conduct for remarks on referee Alan Wiley's fitness, Ferguson agreed with match official Chris Foy's ruling.
"Gary did follow through with the tackle and caught the player," he said.
"It was not high, just above the ankle, but in the present climate I would say that the referee was probably correct."
An unfamiliar United line-up eased past the Championship strugglers, with goals from Danny Welbeck and Michael Owen helping to book the Carling Cup holders a quarter-final spot.
However, the Old Trafford side finished with 10 men after Neville was shown a red card in the 63rd minute for a challenge on ex-Liverpool winger Adam Hammill.
The United and England defender appeared to win the ball in the initial challenge but after catching Hammill just below the knee on his right leg, referee Foy ruled the follow through constituted serious foul play and Neville now faces a three-match ban.
The match at Oakwell was held on the same day Ferguson admitted to a Football Association charge after comments regarding referee Wiley on the back of the 2-2 draw with Sunderland on 3 October.
The Scot, who later apologised to Wiley, has requested a personal FA hearing and could receive a hefty fine or a touchline ban.
Ferguson expressed displeasure with another referee last weekend, claiming crucial decisions had gone against his team in the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield.
On Andre Marriner turning down a penalty appeal when Jamie Carragher challenged Michael Carrick, Ferguson stated: "It was another bad decision."
He also questioned the failure to send off Carragher for a tackle on Owen.
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