Martin O'Neill felt Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic should have been sent off in the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.
Vidic escaped any punishment for tugging Gabriel Agbonlahor's shirt just before the hour mark as the Villa striker surged towards the United box.
Though Agbonlahor fell inside the area, the offence started outside the box and O'Neill was unsure whether a penalty should have been awarded.
However, the Villa boss was in no doubt United's Serbian stopper should have been shown a red card for the challenge by referee Chris Foy.
O'Neill said: "I can understand the concern over whether or not it was a penalty. But it is definitely a foul.
"If we get the foul, the player has to be sent off because it is a goal-scoring opportunity. It is as simple as that.
"I didn't need to look at a TV replay to see that it was a foul - but I did do it and there is no doubt that Vidic fouled Gabby."
The result lifted Villa into fourth in the table and O'Neill was happy with the performance on the back of last week's 2-0 win at Arsenal.
He added: "We tried to perform in the same way. We didn't create as many chances as at Arsenal but tried to replicate the play.
"It is very difficult against United. They are great players who can turn games but we stuck at it and deserved something.
"These have been two big games for us after losing to Newcastle and Middlesbrough and will help to give the players great self-belief.
"We have now played the top four sides and have lost only once although we were well beaten at Chelsea.
"It is exceptionally hard to break into the top four but we are aiming for that sort of thing. The players are improving and have a good confidence about themselves."
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