Sir Alex Ferguson has hit back over Owen Coyle's assertion that Nemanja Vidic committed a 'terrible tackle' on Johan Elmander at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.
The FA are to take no action against the Manchester United defender, who flattened Elmander in an aerial duel during the Red Devils' 4-0 win. The news will disappoint Coyle, whose player required five stitches in a head wound the Scot felt occurred deliberately.
But Ferguson was quick to defend his man and said: "What is the old saying about people in glass houses? When Nemanja Vidic came off at half-time he had a lump on his head the size of an egg, his cheek was swollen and he had a black eye."
It had already been suggested Vidic would not face an FA charge because referee Martin Atkinson had a clear view and was looking directly at the incident.
That has proved to be the case, not that Ferguson had any fears about a player he felt produced the best central defensive performance in the world at the weekend.
The Scot added: "It was the best central defensive performance I have seen for years.
"I would have been amazed if the FA had charged him because clearly, his eyes were on the ball.
"There was no intent there whatsoever. I don't think he knew an opponent was there or who it was."
Source: PA
