Preston North End boss Simon Grayson has refused to condemn Wayne Rooney after winning a dubious penalty in tonight's 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
Referee Phil Dowd awarded Rooney a controversial penalty in the closing stages after the player was fouled by goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann, who did not appear to make contact with the 29-year-old.
The England captain, who scored the resulting spot kick, drew criticism from Match of the Day pundit Kevin Kilbane but, speaking to The Telegraph, Grayson was reluctant to agree that it was a dive.
"I am not saying it wasn't a penalty. I am saying there was no contact.
"Wayne has not been touched by the goalkeeper – yes, he has had to jump out of the way, but he has not been touched.
"You can interpret that how you want, but it wasn't a dive. He has gone to get out of the way and took evasive action. I am not complaining."
Scott Laird had fired the League One side into a 1-0 lead shortly after the break, before goals from Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini completed the turnaround later in the half.
Shane Callaghan
