Source: Team_Talk
Friedel eyes return trip to Wembley
Friedel believes the failure by referee Phil Dowd to send off Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic when he hauled down Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor inside four minutes was a crucial factor in yesterday's result.[LNB]Dowd awarded a penalty - converted by James Milner - but no further action was taken against Vidic, who was clearly the last defender, and United recovered to win 2-1 with goals from Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.[LNB]Friedel is convinced the heavy pitch would have taken its toll on United had they had to play virtually the whole game with 10 men.[LNB]But he wants Martin O'Neill's side to try and make amends in the FA Cup ahead of Sunday's quarter-final at Reading.[LNB]Friedel said: "We started the game really well. We have seen the penalty now and it really should have been a sending-off.[LNB]"You feel really hard done because you would have liked to be playing against 10 men. But it wasn't to be, we will take the loss and hopefully get back to winning ways in the FA Cup next Sunday.[LNB]"We feel a bit hard done by that we didn't play with a man advantage, especially on a pitch as heavy as that and cutting up like that.[LNB]"With 10 men, they would have really tired towards the end but it wasn't to be.[LNB]"Hopefully we will get back here in the FA Cup and that is everyone's aim now. We will try and be determined to get here in May."[LNB]Villa defender Carlos Cuellar echoed Friedel's sentiments about the failure to dismiss Vidic.[LNB]The Spaniard said: "For me it is a penalty and a sending-off. I think everyone says the same.[LNB]"You saw the sending-off of (Juliano) Belletti in the Chelsea-Manchester City game for something similar on Saturday.[LNB]"I think this was even more clear. But different referees make different decisions and you never know what would have happened had we had the extra man."[LNB]Midfielder James Milner is taking no consolation from an encouraging performance by Villa in their first major final for 10 years and believes United's extra experience may have been crucial.[LNB]He said: "We didn't play too badly but that is not what it is about and, in finals, it is about getting a result and winning the game.[LNB]"We came up against an experienced side who have played in a lot of finals and maybe that told in the end.[LNB]"But I don't think we did ourselves any harm. We put in a good performance, had chances."[LNB][LNB]
