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ir Alex Ferguson insisted Cristiano Ronaldo must learn not to react to provocation from inferior players after his senseless dismissal in the champions' 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.

Ronaldo was sent off for aiming a headbutt at Richard Hughes on Wednesday and faces a three-match ban that will rule him out of United's derby clash with Manchester City on Sunday, as well as home games against Tottenham and Sunderland.

The Portugal winger was dismissed in the 85th minute by referee Steve Bennett following a melee in the Portsmouth penalty area after Sulley Muntari was sent off for Portsmouth a minute earlier.

United boss Ferguson believes Ronaldo was provoked but claimed he must keep his head rather than trying to headbutt other players.

"He was provoked but you can't raise your arms at another player," Ferguson said. "He has got to realise he is better than these other players and not to rise to their bait. He has got to rise above it.

"He got no protection from the referee but that is not to excuse his sending off.

"Steve Bennett has sent him off before as has the linesman and we missed a great opportunity for us to win the game."

Ronaldo was last sent off two years ago against local rivals City and will be a massive loss to a United team already without injured England striker Wayne Rooney.

Harry Redknapp claimed not to have seen the incident but felt his team deserved a draw anyway.

Redknapp also reckons his seven million pounds signing Muntari must calm down or he will continue to be sent off.

"Ronaldo is a fantastic player and I'm sure he wouldn't try to deliberately hurt someone.

"He is a good lad and not malicious but I missed the incident because there were so many players involved in it. Muntari just needs to calm down a bit."

Paul Scholes smashed United into the lead in the 15th minute with a trademark thunderbolt.

New boys Nani and Carlos Tevez combined to set up Scholes who drilled the ball home right-footed from 20 yards.

Pedro Mendes and debutant Martin Cranie were dragged off at half-time as Redknapp rang the changes. Matthew Taylor and Djimi Traore replaced the ineffective pair.

Benjani put Pompey back in the game with a bullet header in the 53rd minute.

Taylor put over a beautiful cross from the left and Benjani powered in his second goal in as many games from eight yards past the helpless Edwin van Der Sar.

David Nugent missed a sitter to give Pompey the lead in the 60th minute.

Benjani shot, van der Sar saved and Nugent somehow failed to put the ball over the line from six yards.

The England international is still searching for his first Pompey goal since his six million ponds move from Preston and he will not get an easier chance to score.

Ronaldo came to life in the 65th minute before his late sending off when he put over a teasing centre that Ryan Giggs got on the end of, but James tipped over the bar.