Otelul Galati 0 Man Utd 2: Rooney rewards Reds’ toils

Wayne Rooney scored two second-half penalties for United who had Nemanja Vidic sent off as both sides ended the game with 10 players.

“We expected it to be hard,” Carrick said. “We knew it was going to be tough, we had to be patient and in the end we came through.

“You go into the game expecting a tough game and anything else is a bonus.”

Carrick claimed the sending-off of Vidic was not clear-cut.

He said: “It was a dubious sending-off at best really and we’re disappointed with that.”

The Premier League champions’ manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side had made life difficult for themselves. He said: “I think in these away games you have to work, they are not easy.

“In the second half we improved a great deal, Nani’s performance in the second half was terrific.

“I’m satisfied with the result. It was a long night and we had to be patient.”

On Vidic’s sending-off Ferguson added: “He’s raised his foot and in the context of referees’ interpretation in Europe I can see why he has given the red card – but it’s disappointing.”

Rooney’s brace of penalties saw him became the highest English scorer in the Champions League with 26 goals.