SHEFFIELD United manager Neil Warnock was critical of referee Tony Bates after his controversial penalty decision allowed Preston to clinch a 2-1 win in the FA Cup fourth round clash at Deepdale.

The Stoke official ruled that Robert Page had deliberately handled a flick from super-sub Richard Cresswell and Graham Alexander ignored the protests of United players to hit the 70th-minute winner.

Preston had clawed their way back into the game 18 minutes earlier when Cresswell, on as a half-time replacement for Steve Basham, levelled Peter Ndlovu's 14th-minute opener for the Blades.

But Warnock, whose side were outplayed in the second half, was also angry that Bates had only given an indirect free-kick to United when home skipper Sean Gregan felled Michael Tonge in the box in the first half.

"Their second goal was a difference of opinion," said Warnock.

"We got one and it was an indirect free-kick and they get one and the referee says penalty.

"I wouldn't say I had a great view but then I don't think the referee did.

"When the ball hit Robert he had his arm up and it hit him on the bottom of the elbow.

"The game hinges on decisions and the last time I saw something like that it was on a black and white TV."

Preston manager David Moyes had a different opinion over the crucial spot-kick.

"I thought it was a penalty because it did hit his arm," he said.

"Theirs was not a penalty because Sean just stepped across him. You make your own luck in this game."

Moyes was delighted with the performance of his side, but reserved special praise for man of the match Cresswell.

The forward, who had only played 20 minutes of football since injuring himself against Burnley on December 9, was thrown into the action when Basham became the third Preston player forced to leave the field injured.

He said: "The crowd got behind us because we went for it.

"Because we did go for it then we deserved to win the game."

He added: "We took a gamble with Richard, but the 45 minutes he played will do him the world of good.

"He is still two weeks away from being fully match fit. My idea was to give him maybe 20 to 30 minutes but my hand was forced by the injuries."