Sam Allardyce defends Andy Carroll challenge on David de Gea

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has defended Andy Carroll's challenge on Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea in their 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

The on-loan Liverpool forward collided with Spanish stopper during the first half, causing United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to suggest that he should have been sent off.

However, Allardyce disagreed with the viewpoint of Ferguson saying that just a booking would have sufficed.

"I think at the very most it is a yellow card. Andy Carroll is committed to try and go to the header and cannot stop," Allardyce told reporters after the game.

"As you see in your code on the road, if you are travelling at 60mph it takes 300 yards to stop. That happens."

Carroll is West Ham's joint top scorer this season with six strikes for the club.