England manager Roy Hodgson has defended his skipper Wayne Rooney by insisting he did not dive to win a penalty for Manchester United in their FA Cup win over Preston.

Rooney was at the centre of the game’s two most controversial moments as United overcame a one-goal deficit to earn a quarter-final tie at home against holders Arsenal.

The England captain appeared to interfere with play by obscuring goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann’s view in the build-up to United’s equaliser and then took a theatrical tumble over the onrushing German’s leg to earn the penalty which sealed his side’s passage to the next round.

Rooney dispatched the resulting spot kick to complete United’s comeback amid a barrage of criticism – Hodgson, however, insisted the 29-year-old was merely taking evasive action.

“It’s not a dive for me, I think Rooney was just taking evasive action there,” Hodgson told the BBC.

“If you’re refereeing the game in the run of play, without all the replays we’ve now seen, I don’t think anybody would have said that’s not a penalty.

“The goalkeeper’s come out very rashly, gone in with both feet, and Wayne’s touched the ball past him