Blackburn Rovers - 1 Man Utd -1: Alan Wiley last night said he was responsible for increasing the added time from three minutes to four in this match, enabling Alan Smith to equalise for Manchester United in the dying seconds of the game.

Match of the Day highlights had suggested Alex Ferguson put pressure on the fourth official Chris Foy to extend the stoppage-time, but the referee Wiley emphasised it was his decision to overrule Foy that allowed Smith to score with just 30 seconds remaining.

"On Saturday the fourth official thought it should be around three minutes, but I took into account substitutions and a couple of yellow cards. He flashed three - I told him four," said Wiley.

Wiley did, however, admit to having been mistaken when he allowed the goal to stand despite Louis Saha having handled the ball in the build-up. "I would have seen it if I'd been in the stand behind the goal but from where I was I had no chance of seeing it and my assistant couldn't see either.

"The only appeal came from the Blackburn goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, because he had a view from behind - the best view."

Friedel produced a masterclass of goalkeeping to repel United, especially after Lorenzo Amoruso had been dismissed for his second bookable offence with 21 minutes.

One acrobatic stop to keep out Kleberson's thumping strike even left United supporters applauding as their side tried to bounce back from conceding Paul Dickov's opener on 17 minutes.