Dermot Gallagher: 'Manchester United lucky to avoid conceding penalty'

Former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher has acknowledged that Manchester City should have been awarded a penalty against Manchester United.

Gallagher has claimed that City did not deserve to win a spot kick for an alleged handball by Ashley Young earlier in the match but during the closing stages, the full-back went in aggressively on Sergio Aguero and again avoided conceding a penalty.

However, while admitting that City should have been given the opportunity to score from 12 yards, Gallagher has said that any decision whether or not to dismiss Young was open to interpretation.

Gallagher told Sky Sports News: "It is certainly a penalty and once you give the penalty, you make your own mind up. Many people said 'red card', but the fact [Young] gets the ball would influence the ref to go yellow card.

"If you watch it, Martin [Atkinson] cuts the assistant out very quickly, saying 'I'm not giving it'. And at that point, he has closed his options."

United claimed a 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium after overturning a two-goal deficit at the break.