D`URSO FEARED THE PUSH

An irate band of United player`s, led by captain Roy Keane (pictured), charged at D`Urso as he struggled to maintain control following the penalty award after Jaap Stam felled Juninho.

The Irish midfield powerhouse had to be physically restrained by team-mates, and he was lucky to escape with only a yellow card.

The Essex official was shocked by the whole affair and said: "If I had stood my ground I would have been pushed over. The best thing I could do was to keep on backing off and backing off.

"In terms of the numbers surrounding me, one or two were showing displeasure, and a couple of others were trying to restrain those giving me a bit of grief. I felt under pressure."

The referee is unlikely to report the incident to the Football Association, but Keane could still be in hot water if the FA use video evidence of the incident.

However D`Urso was still adamant his decision to grant the penalty was right. "I had no doubts it was a penalty," he said. "I was clear about that."

Alex Livie