Poll: Dowd used common sense

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll believes Phil Dowd used a technicality in the rules to avoid sending off Nemanja Vidic during Manchester United’s Carling Cup victory over Aston Villa yesterday.

The Serbia defender brought down Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor in the fourth minute to give away a penalty, which James Milner scored from to give Martin O’Neill’s side the lead, but the official did not send Vidic off despite him appearing to be the last man.