Sir Alex Ferguson Talks to Ashley Young About Diving

Commentators, fans and opponents have cast a critical eye on Manchester United's Ashley Young following a pair of blatant dives taken by the player over the past two weekends.

Now Sir Alex Ferguson has taken the player aside for a chat.

"I've had a word with Ashley," Ferguson told reporters during a Friday press conference. "He understands where we're coming from and I hope it makes a difference."

On April 8, Young changed the balance of the game early when he went plunging to the pitch after QPR defender Shaun Derry appeared to brush the dirt off Young's right arm.

For Derry's trouble, the defender saw red and Young earned a penalty kick his team would convert for the opening goal.

A week later, Young was at it again when United hosted Aston Villa. After Young knifed into the Villa area, defender Ciaran Clark made contact with the winger. It was probably a legitimate penalty, but the United player's spread eagle dive even had his own manager admitting he milked it.

Young's antics drew criticism from United legend Bryan Robson on Friday.

Robson told BBC Radio Manchester that Young's developing reputation could prove harmful for the club (h/t ESPN).

"The thing is," Robson said, "in a really important game towards the end of the season there might be a blatant penalty and he won't get it because he has a reputation for diving."

Manchester United fans will hope Robson doesn't prove a prophet over the final four games of the Premier League season.

United currently have a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table.