LONDON: Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson expressed his discontent with the amount of stoppage time added onto the end of their 3-2 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford yesterday, describing the four allocated minutes as “an insult to the game”.

United found themselves trailing 2-0 at half time but two goals from Nani and Shinji Kagawa provided the Red Devils with a lifeline shortly after the restart.

United were thoroughly on top for the majority of the second half, but Spurs hung on for a first victory at Old Trafford in 23 years - and Ferguson felt the referee should have sanctioned additional time.

The referee was Chris Foy.

"They gave us four minutes (stoppage time), that's an insult to the game.” he said.

“It denies you a proper chance to win a football match.

"There were six substitutions, the trainer came on, so that's four minutes right away and the goalkeeper must have wasted about two or three minutes and they took their time at every goal kick.

"That's obvious to everyone today and it's a flaw in the game that the referee is responsible for time-keeping. It's ridiculous that it's 2012 and the referee still has control of that."

Despite failing to get anything against Spurs, Ferguson was pleased with his side’s fantastic second -half performance.

"It was quite a game.” he said. “The first half we never started, didn't get into the game. From there we were just playing against the wind.

"The second half we played fantastic, just trying to get something from the game, and I think we were very unlucky.

"I think the attitude changed, that was the important thing. Wayne's (Rooney) ability does help but the attitude of the players was excellent everywhere on the pitch."

When asked about his side’s numerous penalty appeals throughout the game, Ferguson admitted he thought Nani exaggerated a tackle in search for a spot-kick but refused to comment any further.

"There were quite a few penalty shouts. I think the one in the first half was a clear penalty kick, but maybe Nani made a meal of it and he didn't need to do that. He was clearly pulled back.

"The ones in the second half, I'm not so sure."

- mD