Video – Poyet: It was like Sir Alex Ferguson was back last night

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet admitted that he understood the frustration of David Moyes following his side’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final but was surprised not to see Sir Alex Ferguson on the sidelines when the fourth official’s board went up on 90 minutes.

The Black Cats cemented a disastrous week for United courtesy of Ryan Giggs‘ own goal and a controversial Fabio Borini penalty. David Moyes has voiced his anger at referee Andre Marriner but Poyet was not overly enthusiastic with some of the referee’s decisions, particularly when he opted to add on a chunk of injury time at the end of the game.

“In the first half he played 1 minute 45, in the second he played five minutes 50, for a moment I thought Sir Alex Ferguson was back in the dugout,” Poyet declared, with tongue firmly in cheek.

Ferguson was famed for reportedly persuading officials to add ‘Fergie time’ onto the designated injury time when his team were searching for either a winner or an equaliser, but the famous comebacks have been one of many aspects that have been lacking under David Moyes this year.

Meanwhile Poyet accepted that his side had been fortunate and revealed a desire to convert his side’s Cup form into points in their fight for Premier League survival.

“The penalty; on another day you don’t get it if I’m honest but it was clumsy and in the middle of the park it is a foul. But on another day Rafael is in the stands after his second challenge.

“When it goes for you you’re happy, when it goes against you I understand the frustration. I need to find out why we are capable and can beat top teams in the cup and be so clinical but cannot do the same in the league,” the Uruguayan said.

http://youtu.be/Akfu31FgXio