Ferguson rounded on referee Alan Wiley over the award of the decisive penalty.

"It was absolutely diabolical, " he told MUTV. "It is a major decision.

"Granted, it hit his hand. But he has not lifted his hand above his shoulders, above his head, anything like that. It is going straight to Rio Ferdinand. The referee should have seen that rather than the linesman.

"If we're not going to get those decisions then we are under pressure."

Ferguson believes his team have not been getting the rub of the green from officials.

He said: "If we're not getting the decisions we deserve then we're going to have to perform really well. In the context of today, when (Cristiano) Ronaldo comes on, in the first minute he's grappled to the floor by Ballack.

"It was a clear penalty kick but no penalty was given."

Ferguson was also upset by a challenge by Didier Drogba on Nemanja Vidic, which saw the defender come off after 14 minutes.

The Serbian needed stitches and lost a tooth.

"He got kneed in the face by Drogba - no foul given, " said the Old Trafford boss. "He was dazed rather than concussed."