Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes Manchester United "got out of jail" today against Sunderland at Old Trafford.
In a match not short of talking points, Louis van Gaal's men scored two second half goals through Wayne Rooney, the first from the penalty spot, to run out 2-0 winners and claim three vital Premier League points.
It appeared that for a foul before Rooney's penalty the referee sent off the wrong Sunderland player, with the Black Cats claiming that it was John O'Shea and not Wes Brown, who was sent off, who fouled Radamel Falcao.
Regardless of that incident though, Keown was left feeling Manchester United's first half performance was so poor that they were let off the hook in the second period.
The ex-Arsenal defender told the BBC: "Manchester United got out of jail after a poor first-half performance, and went on to dominate play."
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Keown also reflected on the referee's sending off error, claiming it will add to the debate about refereeing standards in the English top flight dropping.
"It was the right decision to give the penalty, but the referee sent the wrong man off.
"There has been a lot of talk about the standard of refereeing going downhill, and this is another classic example.
"When he sees it afterwards he will be as disappointed as we are, because it's hard to believe he has got that wrong.
"The players are trying to tell him that he got it wrong too, but the referees will not listen, and that makes it worse."
While the victory leaves Manchester United in third spot with 50 points from 27 games, Sunderland are three points above the drop zone and will be grateful that relegation battlers Aston Villa and Burnley both lost, against Newcastle and Swansea respectively.
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