Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that winger Ashley Young is starting to develop a reputation as a 'diver'.

Young appeared to go to ground after minimal contact with Ciaran Clark as he won United's penalty in Sunday's 4-0 win over Aston Villa, just one week after Queens Park Rangers' Shaun Derry was sent off for allegedly bringing down the England player as United beat QPR 2-0.

Villa boss Alex McLeish even warned his players prior to Sunday's fixture with the champions about Young's ability to go down easily.

When asked whether the winger might be seen as someone who goes down too easily, Ferguson responded on MUTV: "I think in that situation, in the last week or two, yeah.

"I have never seen that in him. It is not an habitual thing with him. He was brought down. He just made the most of it. But he definitely brought him down. There was contact. He has bought the fact that Ashley jinked inside him."

The win restored Manchester United's five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.