Alex Ferguson said Cristiano Ronaldo only has himself to blame after picking up a red card against Portsmouth.
The Portuguese star will now miss Sunday's derby after an apparent headbutt aimed at Richard Hughes, but Ferguson also took a swipe at referee Steve Bennett.
The offence will now see him banned for the Old Trafford games with Tottenham and Sunderland on top of the derby clash with City.
Ferguson said after the 1-1 draw: "I have tried to look at the replay and there was nothing conclusive there. In fact you cannot really see anything. But my take is he was provoked and he has fallen for it.
"But that referee Steve Bennett sent him off at City and he will have loved that opportunity to send him off. Cristiano was responsible for falling into the trap of intimidation which has happened to him a few times again tonight. He has only himself to blame and it left us with only ten men and he'll be missing for three games now. It is a big blow.
"I don't know whether Cristiano lifted his hands but if you do there is no other course. Paul Scholes last year against Liverpool didn't touch the player but he lifted his hands and he was given a three match suspension.
"You get provoked and you have to have a bit of calmness. You have to remind yourself you are a better player than these players and that is why they are doing it. He has fallen into the trap and has paid the penalty for it.
What are your views so far this season DE Niro i know we are only two games in but you are already 4 points behind chelsea with rooney injured and Ronaldo supended not a good start but then again with the quality players you have i cant see this being a major problem
fixtures Saturday, 18 August 2007
Barclays Premier League Birmingham v West Ham, 15:00 Fulham v Middlesbrough, 15:00 Newcastle v Aston Villa, 17:15 Portsmouth v Bolton, 12:45 Reading v Everton, 15:00 Tottenham v Derby, 15:00 Wigan v Sunderland, 15:00
Sunday, 19 August 2007 Barclays Premier League Blackburn v Arsenal, 15:00 Liverpool v Chelsea, 16:00 Man City v Man Utd, 13:30
If i come across the table and take your f*****g eyes out ,will you remember
