Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will not face punishment for confronting referee Mike Dean at Old Trafford yesterday, the Football Association has confirmed.

Alex Ferguson faces an anxious wait to see whether referee Mike Dean reports his half-time rant at Old Trafford yesterday.

Anything the noisy neighbours, and defending champions, from across the city can do, Manchester United can do just as effectively, as Newcastle discovered to their cost, losing a pulsating game which they had led on no fewer than three occasions.

Manchester United 4 Newcastle 3

Manchester United 1 Sunderland 0

IN an era when foreign players dominate the higher echelons of the game, Sunderland manager Roy Keane maintains that at the core of every club there should be local heroes.