Mark Clattenburg has defended Alan Wiley's fitness levels in the wake of Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's criticisms. Ferguson claimed Wiley was unfit after The Red Devils required an injury-time own goal from Anton Ferdinand to rescue a point at Old Trafford against Sunderland.

Clattenburg insists referees, if anything, raise their games for the big occasion in a bid to ensure they get every decision right, something he believes Wiley did.

"Referees are just like players when you're in front of a big crowd," said Clattenburg. "You're really up for the game.

"You up your levels. You probably run faster but you try to blank everything out because you want to get it right.

"Forget about the politics of Alan's fitness levels. If you look back at his decision-making in that game, it was practically faultless."