Van Nistelrooy shoulders blame for derby draw

MANCHESTER United hit-man Ruud van Nistelrooy has accepted some of the blame for Sunday’s disappointing derby-day draw.

The prolific Dutchman looked like becoming the Old Trafford hero when he swept home Ryan Giggs' cross to put United in front. But his failure to notch his 28th goal of the season after the interval when he was put clear by Rio Ferdinand proved crucial as City fought back to snatch a point.

The 26-year-old admitted he should have reacted far quicker to Ferdinand's long punt forward, instead of allowing Sylvain Distin to slide in and make a brilliant tackle, just as the £18.5million striker was about to pull the trigger.

"It was an important moment," said van Nistelrooy. "I could have gone straight towards the goal and finished much quicker. But I thought I had more time and the defender came back to block."

United were also left to lament Giggs' failure to convert David Beckham's defence-splitting pass, which City keeper Carlo Nash raced from his area to clear.

The impetus seemed to go out of their play after that and the visitors started to push further forward, Shaun Goater eventually grabbing the goal which ended United's six-match winning streak.

While the loss of two valuable points was disappointing, the damage was limited by Laurent Robert's equaliser for Newcastle against leaders Arsenal, which kept United three points adrift of the Gunners with 11 games remaining.

Meanwhile, Dennis Bergkamp has pleaded innocent after the latest attack on his footballing integrity from Newcastle manager Bobby Robson. Arsenal's Dutch star was at the centre of a free-kick controversy in which Newcastle midfielder Laurent Robert was sent off for a second yellow card during Sunday's 1-1 Premiership draw at St James' Park.

Referee Neale Barry judged that Robert whom he had cautioned earlier for a foul on Arsenal's Lauren tried to delay Bergkamp taking a quick free-kick following the Frenchman's foul on him, and the second yellow meant a subsequent red.

Furious Robson, however, clearly believed Bergkamp was guilty of gamesmanship by firing the free-kick against Robert, who was just two yards away. "I saw the same thing in Scotland last week and the player (Celtic's John Hartson) who took the free-kick was booked for taking it too quickly," said Robson.

But Bergkamp responded: "It is not my fault that he (Robert) chose to stand in front of the ball when I wanted to take a free-kick. Twice he stopped me taking it, actually, and I felt the referee had no choice with his decision."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: "It is not forbidden in the rules to take a quick free-kick. Dennis saw Thierry Henry making a run and tried to play it quickly but couldn't do it. We didn't want anybody to be sent off but I don't think the referee had much choice."

Technically, referee Barry could not be reproached as Robert was punished for the statutory offence of failing to retreat 10 yards from a free-kick.

The Football Association have still to rule on the Dutchman's action in making forearm contact with West Ham's Lee Bowyer before launching a cross that led to a crucial Arsenal goal at Highbury last month.