Mourinho questions United penalty escapes

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho turned up the heat in the Premiership title battle by claiming it appears to be “forbidden” to award penalties against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Middlesbrough looked to have strong claims for a penalty towards the end of their 1-1 draw with United at Old Trafford last night when John O’Shea brought down South Korean striker Lee Dong-Gook.

And Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock also felt his side had been denied a blatant penalty during United’s 2-0 home win in midweek when Luton Shelton was felled from behind by Gabriel Heinze.

The incidents prompted Mourinho, speaking ahead of Chelsea’s vital clash with Newcastle at St James’ Park this afternoon, to tell Sky Sports News: “Sometimes, when you watch the last two Manchester United matches, we are a little bit afraid because it looks like there is a rule in football that it is forbidden to give a penalty against Manchester United.

“At the moment we should be three points behind them and instead we are four (points behind).”