Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is bristling at diving claims from Chelsea manager Frank Lampard aimed at Bruno Fernandes.

Lampard stoked the fires ahead of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with United by pointing the finger at Fernandes, calling him “clever" after earning a penalty at Aston Villa recently.

United have been awarded 13 penalties this season, equalling a Premier League record.

“100 per cent I will defend my players, none of them try to con the ref at all," insisted the United boss.

“If you have quick feet like Dan James, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial or Mason Greenwood and you get tackles in or around the box, some ankles could've been broken for our players.

“I just want them to be protected.

"There should have been a red card for Oriol Romeu when he almost crippled Mason Greenwood in the Southampton game, maybe that would have helped us.

“And the same when Mark Noble should've been sent off half yard in front of me at West Ham when he battered Aaron Wan Bissaka and we lost there."