An angry Sir Alex Ferguson last night leapt to the defence of teenage sensation Wayne Rooney following his ill-tempered incident with Bolton's Tal Ben Haim during their 2-0 victory over Wanderers.

Rooney sparked fury on the touchline and amongst the Bolton players when the England international striker shoved Haim in the face after the defender brought Rooney to the ground in a minor collision.

The incident, not witnessed by referee Dermott Gallagher or his assistants, is expected to be reviewed by the FA this week and the duo now await their course of punishment.

"The FA should look at the Bolton player but we will have to wait and see on that one," stated Ferguson.

He continued: "The biggest concern should be what the other player did. He was down on the ground for two minutes and he is the one that should be up before the FA, not Rooney."

"What he did was a disgrace and it's him that should be on a disrepute charge. He rolled around as if he was in agony and it was embarrassing but that issue has not even been addressed."

"All I hear about is what Wayne Rooney did. Did he punch the lad? No he didn't. He just brushed him off and the guy made an absolute meal of it."

Taim was thought to have produced melodramatics so good enough to earn him a place in this year's pantomimes.