Nolan - Utd didn't want penalty

Styles' decision left both sets of players baffled

Last updated: 29th September 2008

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Ronaldo: Penalty incident

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Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Nolan admits even Manchester United's players were baffled by Rob Styles' penalty award on Saturday.

Styles awarded a spot-kick at Old Trafford following Jlloyd Samuel's tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo with the score at 0-0 after an hour.

Samuel won the ball in the challenge, with Ronaldo going to ground under the tackle before stepping up to convert the penalty.

United went on to win the match 2-0, but the incident proved to be the turning point, with Nolan revealing the champions were also surprised by Styles' decision.

'Didn't make sense'

"Ronaldo was on the floor saying, 'I didn't want a penalty!'," said Nolan in the Daily Mail.

"I don't think one of them put their hands up asking for a penalty. Fletcher's going, 'It's not a penalty', Tevez is going, 'It's not a penalty'. Twenty players who were in the box at the time knew it wasn't a penalty.

"But the man who was in black had the final say. They couldn't believe their luck.

"But you're at United and unfortunately that happens.

"It does strike fear into you when you look at this magnificent stadium. Maybe that's what's happened to the referee. He said he thought Jlloyd took Ronaldo before the ball.

"It didn't make sense to me at all. But I can't say too much or I'm going to get done by the FA."