Harry: Arm not happy at Ade goal KO

OUTRAGED ... Emmanuel Adebayor and Louis Saha protet over the handball decision as Utd's Jonny Evans also appeals

HARRY REDKNAPP blasted ref Martin Atkinson for ruling out an Emmanuel Adebayor 'goal' that changed the course of the game.

The Tottenham boss insists his side's dominance of Manchester United should have been underlined by Adebayor's 37th-minute effort — instead of the striker's backheel being ruled out.

Adebayor tried to get out of the way of Louis Saha's goal-bound shot but it hit him in the stomach and bounced on to his arm.

Atkinson ruled the Tottenham man handled the ball before steering it into the net.

But Redknapp said: "I thought the referee's decision was a bit harsh.

"I thought he could have given the goal. I didn't think it was handball but it was not to be.

"I heard Graeme Souness say on TV it was a goal but we just didn't seem to get any breaks. Sometimes you need a bit of luck.

"I've never seen Alex Ferguson on his feet on the touchline as much for years but that's how it goes. We didn't get what we deserved."

United stormed ahead through a Wayne Rooney header and a double blast from Ashley Young before Jermain Defoe hit a late consolation.

The second defeat in a row for Tottenham means their 10-point lead in third place has now dropped to just four, sparking accusations the club are struggling to put results together following Redknapp's emergence as favourite to take over as England manager.

But he added: "You can't say the focus has been lost.

"I'm focused on this team and getting results here. The players know that as well. I don't have days off. I work all week for Tottenham.

"I don't feel disappointed at all because of how we played. There wasn't much I could change. The whole team functioned so well.

"Only one team should have been in front and we came in 1-0 down because we didn't mark well and Wayne Rooney scored.

"Even then I felt we could win it. We started the second half well and David De Gea made a great save.

"Then we switched off at a throw-in and were 2-0 down.

"I couldn't have asked for more from the players. I want to finish third. I want to finish above Arsenal and Chelsea. That's the key for me. We're capable of doing that."

United boss Ferguson admitted: "I would say that's our hardest away game of the season. If you look at their home record this season, if you look also at their percentage of possession in home games, it's 58 per cent on average. It tells you how difficult it is to come here.

"In fairness, during the first half we were never at the races.

"Maybe we got our tactics wrong. What we tried to do was sit back, draw them on to us and then play on the counter-attack. But it didn't work.

"In the second half, we pushed up more and it did make a difference. But we needed the second goal to get us home. That killed them, really."