But while goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes lined up what he believed to be a free-kick, the United man stole in front of the Brazilian and prodded into a vacant net.

A lengthy discussion between linesman Simon Beck and referee Mark Clattenburg followed, with the official later awarding the goal having never blown for a free-kick.

Redknapp blasted: “What a farcical way to finish a game. It’s a handball, he’s deliberately handled it and it should have been a booking.

“It was a scandalous decision and the referee has made a mess of it all.”

But while Redknapp waits to see if the FA take a dim view of his outburst, United counterpart Alex Ferguson was content to take three points after Nani had added to Nemanja Vidic’s first-half opener.

Ferguson said: “It was bizarre. No-one knew at the time what was wrong. One minute the goalkeeper had the ball in his hands and next it’s in his net.

“Nani looked back and looked at the referee and the referee said play on, so what can he do but put the ball in the net?

“You can look at the referee and look at the linesmen and blame them, but the goalkeeper should know better. He’s an experienced goalkeeper. I thought he made a mess of it.”

Leaders Chelsea had already secured a 2-1 win at Blackburn to maintain a five-point gap at the top.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side were “lucky” as they came from behind to take three points.

Branislav Ivanovic headed the visitors’ winner eight minutes from time after Nicolas Anelka had earlier levelled Benjani Mwaruwari’s opener.

Ancelotti said: “Blackburn could have scored before our goal and we were a little bit lucky.

“To win here was important because they were better. We were not great again. Blackburn put us under some pressure and we were not able to play our football.”

West Ham manager Avram Grant is not giving up hope despite Alex Song’s late winner consigning his side to a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Grant, tipped to lose his job if the Hammers are defeated at Birmingham on Saturday, is remaining positive.

He said: “We have time to do it. There are six or seven months until the end of the season.

“Even if we were in this situation in April, I would not think it was the end of the world.”

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini bemoaned his side’s performance in the 2-1 defeat at Wolves as their worst of the season.

He said: “We only played for the first 25 minutes. But then we stopped playing and Wolves deserved to win this game. It was the worst game we have played.”

City led through an Emmanuel Adebayor penalty but Wolves took the win with goals from Nenad Milijas and David Edwards.

Clint Dempsey’s double earned Fulham a 2-0 win at home to Wigan and Ayegbeni Yakubu was on target as Everton edged Stoke 1-0 at Goodison Park.