Referee Phil Dowd consulted his linesman long and hard before dismissing the England defender.
Less clear was referee Phil Dowd's decision not to award a spot-kick when Johnny Evans pulled Hreidarsson back in the box late in the half.
Nelsen did pull Agbonlahor's shirt but contact was minimal and the red card decision seemed unnecessary after referee Phil Dowd had already pointed to the penalty spot.
Chelsea went behind in the 15th minute as England striker Jermain Defoe blasted home a penalty after referee Phil Dowd ruled that Terry had handled a cross.
McCarthy's mood quickly changed from joy to anger as his side were denied a penalty appeal when Radoslav Kovac clumsily hacked down Jones, but referee Phil Dowd was unmoved.
Manchester City were aggrieved at referee Phil Dowd's decision to penalise Richards for a foul and their sense of injustice was almost compounded by a flying Cousin header, but an alert Schmeichel made the save.
And Mancini's men seemed short of ideas until they were given the chance to open the scoring from the spot after referee Phil Dowd harshly adjudged Scott Dann to have bundled over Adebayor in the box.
Frustrations threatened to get out of hand after the final whistle, with Everton captain Phil Neville held back by referee Phil Dowd, who was also in heated discussion with City coach Brian Kidd as tempers boiled over.
Villa clearly felt referee Phil Dowd should have sent Vidic off after he hauled down Agbonlahor as he closed in on goal - and their burning sense of injustice was fuelled even further when United quickly restored equality.
The visitors needed some breathing space and were given it when Keane was shown a straight red by Phil Dowd, after consulting the fourth official, for a tackle on Muamba that was late but did not appear to be malicious.
Javier Hernandez's attempts to turn in the rebound were foiled by Ashley Cole's reckless late tackle - which left the England defender fortunate to receive only a yellow card from referee Phil Dowd and United puzzled that they were not awarded a second penalty.
Fulham midfielder Simon Davies saw three penalty appeals turned down by referee Phil Dowd while the loss of Zamora - who has broken his right leg just above the ankle - did not help Fulham's cause as they lost their way in the first half.
It was the slice of fortune the Merseysiders will feel they have been missing and Birmingham will feel their opponents also got the rub of the green when referee Phil Dowd waved away Stephen Carr's appeals for a penalty after he thought he was caught by Everton left-back Baines.
The Latics defence played to the linesman's flag, not referee Phil Dowd's whistle, when Vladimir Stojkovic failed to deal with a hopeful ball into the area and Atkinson, who has spent most of this season on loan at League Two side Rochdale, ran from an onside position to head home Kilbane's cross.
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