Sport

Edge of their seats: Sir Alex Ferguson claims Manchester United derby loss leaves supporters feeling nervy

By Alex Bysouth

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United supporters are ‘hanging on the edge of their seats’ as his side were beaten by rivals City in the race for the Premier League title.

Super sub Sergio Aguero’s solo effort with twelve minutes remaining proved the winner at Old Trafford following Vincent Kompany’s own-goal and James Milner’s deflected second-half opener.

United hold a 12-point lead with just seven games to play and Ferguson is keen for his side to finish the job quickly in the hunt for a 20th league title.

“We always make it difficult for us,” he said. “Our poor supporters are hanging on the edge of their seats each year.

“We’ve got a 12-point lead and only seven games left now, so as each game comes along you whittle them down and we go to Stoke on Sunday with great support and we’ll give it a go.

“I was pleased with the performance second half, we came back really well from a goal down, a bit lucky with the own-goal but it was a fantastically hit free kick – a lot of positives as it is clear our form is good.”

However, the Scot was disappointed with City’s opener after former United man Carlos Tevez appeared to block David De Gea’s sight of Milner’s effort when in an offside position.

“For the first goal, Tevez is certainly interfering with play, but the linesman that side, no way was he giving it,” he explained.

“It’s disappointing – if that’s not interference then I don’t know what is.”

But Ferguson admitted it was a great game for the neutrals, despite confessing United’s lack of clinical finishing cost them the derby bragging rights.

“It was a very intense and competitive game,” he added. “Two of the best teams in the country.

“The opening period was end to end and we were quite dangerous on the counter attack, we should have maybe done better.

“The second half we were a better team, I thought we were unlucky to lose it, we know Aguero is a fantastic finisher, that’s why they brought him on, but we gave him a lot of room.

“Looking at the whole thing it’s not a bad day for us in terms of performance levels, a very intense game, you don’t want to lose a derby game, but we’re ok.”

Image courtesy of BBC, via YouTube, with thanks.

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