'Mike Dean made Smalling the heavyweight champion!' - Van Gaal bemoans penalty call

Louis van Gaal says referee Mike Dean declared Manchester United defender Chris Smalling the "heavyweight champion" when he awarded Newcastle United a penalty in Tuesday's 3-3 draw.

With Manchester United leading 2-1, the cetnre-back got caught in a grappling match with Newcastle's Aleksandar Mitrovic in the second half and the referee opted to award the visitors a spot kick.

Mitrovic converted the penalty to level the game and while Wayne Rooney restored the home side's lead, a shot from Paul Dummett found the net to ensure the sides shared the points.

"I think you see that Chancel Mbemba handled the ball on purpose, consciously, so that's a penalty," the coach told reporters.

"Then Fellaini gets a yellow card when two players are holding the ball. Then the challenge of Lingard on Janmaat could have been a penalty - if he blows the whistle then, I cannot say anything.

"Then there was the heavyweight wrestling match between Mitrovic and Smalling, you can see Mitrovic pushing his head down and then you have to decide who is heavyweight champion. And Dean decides Smalling is the heavyweight champion."

Van Gaal was disappointed to see his side throw away a lead twice, insisting they should have taken the three points.

"We were the better team, we could have finished it and that is why it is very frustrating," he added. "We have a fantastic defence but today we conceded three goals. Now is our defence weak? No."