• Premier League

Manchester United lose Jonny Evans for two weeks

Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Martinez both thought Phil Dowd was 'harsh' to send off Conor Sammon for this challenge © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Evra worried injuries will cost United the title
  
• News: Gotze ready to disappoint United & Arsenal
  
• Features: Plays of the Day: Sammon smoked
  
• News: Rampant United pull level with frustrated City
  
• Features: What They Said: Maybe the title has gone - Villas-Boas
  

What They Said: Title could be over - AVB

Sir Alex Ferguson is expecting to lose Jonny Evans for two weeks after he had to be substituted during Manchester United's 5-0 victory over Wigan, adding to the champions' defensive woes.

Ferguson fielded a back four featuring Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick at Old Trafford, with first-choice defenders Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones all unavailable.

United coped admirably thanks to goals from Park Ji-sung, Valencia and a Dimitar Berbatov hat-trick, taking them level with Manchester City at the top of the table. Their next game comes against Blackburn, where Ferguson expects to have to do without Evans.

"Jonny came off injured. He has a calf injury and will be out for two weeks," Ferguson told BBC Radio Five Live.

"We have had a nightmare the last few days. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have both been ill. Rio Ferdinand called off yesterday with a back injury and Jonny Evans has come off at half-time.

"It does put you under pressure."

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was left to rue a first-half red card for Conor Sammon, which arrived during a strong spell for the visitors after conceding an early goal. Referee Phil Dowd brandished a straight red for an apparent elbow, but the decision looked harsh upon reflection.

"The red card is a shocking decision," Martinez said. "There was a little bit of a fight, as there was every time the two players went for the ball. None of them should have been a red card. None of them were malicious. There was no intent.

"If you want to show a red card using those standards, do it, then you will end up with six men each. Anyone who has been on a football pitch knows that incident was a normal action.

"I was surprised when he gave the free-kick. To see the red card, I was gobsmacked."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.