Furious Warnock vaults over the Styles in bid to find answers

Television replays showed home defender Gabriel Heinze got nowhere near the ball when he launched into a second-half tackle on speedy Blades striker Luton Shelton, yet referee Rob Styles waved away the visitors' spot-kick claims.

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Had the decision gone in favour of the Blades, Heinze would surely have been sent off as well.

While Styles was not ideally placed to make the call, Warnock revealed the official was not interested in getting a judgement from his better-placed linesman.

So, he will be on the phone to Hackett this morning demanding to know what is going on.

"I will be seeking clarification," he said.

"Rob said he couldn't 100per cent give a penalty. But surely he should have looked at the linesman so between them they get it right.

"Why can't you consult the linesman? What is the point in him being there? I don't understand it. At times, you need to use your linesman as another pair of eyes."

In fairness, Warnock admitted the decision may not have made that much difference to the outcome.

However, it did come as welcome relief to United given they could hardly afford to lose Heinze to suspension at a time when their defensive resources are so badly stretched.

When Patrice Evra hobbled off following a woeful first-half challenge by Colin Kazim-Richards, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were without seven senior defenders, including Rio Ferdinand.

Yet, even with midfielders Darren Fletcher and Kieran Richardson occupying the full-back roles, United still emerged victorious thanks to goals at the beginning of each half from Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney.

Rooney is now up to 20 goals this season, just one behind star man Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, while Ferguson has already been forced to shell out £400 to Ronaldo, who has long since exceeded the 15 goals required to win his pre-season wager with the United boss, Rooney still has some work to do.

"He promised me he would get 25," laughed Ferguson.

"Maybe I am going to get the money back I lost to Cristiano."

The win allowed United to extend their lead at the top to six points, with attention now switching to Upton Park, where West Ham look to cause another mini-sensation by adding Chelsea scalp to the one they claimed from United in Alan Curbishley's first game in charge.

"West Ham are fighting for their lives and they will be doing that against Chelsea," observed Ferguson, who revealed Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea will be back for Saturday's clash with Middlesbrough.

"But that is another game out of the way for us now.

"We have had injuries and I have had to change the team quite a bit but the spirit of the players has been fantastic.

"These boys are special and they have the temperament to do it."