Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has supported defender Jonny Evans after he was involved in an incident with Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse.

Evans and Cisse appeared to spit at each other during the first half of the match at St James' Park, but Van Gaal has backed his defender's view that he didn't spit at the Senegalese striker.

The Dutchman told reporters: "He wasn't aware that he was spitting. When he was spitting on the ground maybe that is a natural thing from a human being. It was not his intention."

Cisse has apologised for his part in the incident on Wednesday night.