Sir Alex Ferguson says he has no doubts Manchester United’s penalty against Liverpool on Sunday was deserved.

The Red Devils emerged 1-0 winners from the third round FA Cup tie at Old Trafford after Ryan Giggs converted a second-minute spot-kick.

Referee Howard Webb awarded the penalty after Dimitar Berbatov went down in the box off a Daniel Agger tackle just 33 seconds in, prompting inevitable debate over whether it should have been given.

But Ferguson has echoed Berbatov and defender Rio Ferdinand by insisting the spot-kick, as well as Steven Gerrard’s red card for his lunge on Michael Carrick 30 minutes in, were legitimate.
Penalty

“It was a penalty,” said the United boss. “Dimitar says he was definitely clipped.

“The replay shows he slightly touched him but the momentum is enough to bring the player down.

“There is no reason for him to go down anyway. He is not that kind of player.

“He is on the by-line, he is in the penalty box. I think it was right.”

He added: “As for the sending off, there was no doubt. It was two-footed and he was off the ground.

“Steven Gerrard is not that type of player but it was a reckless challenge. I don’t think he left the referee with any option.”

Ferguson admits he was expecting his side to win by a greater scoreline after the opening goal, adding: “It is amazing it was only 1-0.

“But sometimes, when a team is down to 10 men, you get that kind of resilient attitude.

“We should have put it to bed in the second half and it could have been three or four.

“But anything can happen at 1-0. The FA Cup is riddled with it.

“Fortunately, we didn’t do anything stupid today that would have caused us embarrassment.”

Injury

Wayne Rooney (ankle), Nemanja Vidic (leg) and Edwin van der Sar (virus) all missed out on the third-round clash, but Ferguson has no serious concerns over any of the trio.

“Wayne came out for training on Friday and we thought he would make today,” he said.

“But he just felt it again. At that point, we said no. There was no point.

“Vidic got a knock in training. He will be okay for Tottenham next Sunday. Edwin will maybe be another week or so.”

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Ryan Giggs can carry on for another season.

The veteran winger, 37, who has made just 10 appearances this term due to a hamstring injury, hinted on Saturday that this season could be his last at Old Trafford.

But Ferguson believes, such is Giggs’ fitness, that there is another year left in the Welsh wizard.

However, he believes the situation is different for fellow veteran Gary Neville, who is again struggling with injury.
Unbelievable

Ferguson told The People: “Ryan is unbelievable – he’s 37 years of age but his fitness has not changed.

“I think there is another year in him. It is difficult to say at that age because they can hit the buffers just like that.

“Ryan will want to carry on because he knows he is fit enough.

“It is different with Gary. We will have to assess him. He has an injury again and it is difficult when you get injuries all the time in your 30s.”

Old master Sir Alex Ferguson believes Blackpool boss Ian Holloway is getting his rewards from good homework.

The Seasiders were tipped by many as favourites for the drop after coming into the Premier League via the Championship play-offs.

But Holloway’s side have confounded their critics by taking 19 points from their first 15 games to sit in 11th place in the league.

Ferguson, whose Manchester United side were due to play the Seasiders on Saturday before a frozen pitch caused a postponement, hailed the attacking ethos of Holloway’s team.

The canny Scot also believes Holloway has done his homework really well as regards potential new signings and is getting his full rewards from it.
Unbelievable

Ferguson said: “What is happening at Blackpool is unbelievable.

“They could have been five up (in the 2-2 draw at Bolton last time) before Bolton had a shot on goal.

“They are attacking every team, they are having a go and are scoring goals. What more can you say about them.

“Ian Holloway has done a fantastic job. He brought Charlie Adam down from Glasgow when nobody seemed to want him. He is one of the best players in the league. He is having a fantastic season.

“Ian took Craig Cathcart from us. He is a terrific lad and a good player. He also got him for a song. Ian has done his homework very well and is getting his rewards for it.

“He has taken a chance on players and they are rewarding him for giving them an opportunity to play in the Premier League.”

Defended poorly

United lost their unbeaten start to the season when going down 4-0 to West Ham in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

The experienced Scot believes his team defended poorly and the young players in the side will come on for the experience.

Ferguson said: “A few years from now these players will go down there and win that kind of game. That is what experience gives you. It was not a 4-0 scoreline.

“We had the most possession, we had the most entries into the penalty box. They had six strikes at goal and scored four. We defended poorly. You cannot afford that in a cup tie.

“The only positive out of it was that Ryan (Giggs) and Darren (Fletcher) got a game. The only one who came up to standard was Anderson.”

Sir Alex Ferguson remains angry after his undefeated Manchester United side lost late leads in the Premier League this term.

The Red Devils kept their unbeaten record when battling back from two goals down to earn a point at Aston Villa last weekend.

United remain three points behind leaders Chelsea in third after drawing seven of their 13 games, including losing late leads at Fulham and Everton.

The United boss is upset about conceding so many late goals as he seeks to guide the club to a record-making 19th league title this term.
Thrown away

“People make a story about us being undefeated, but we’ve thrown points away,” Ferguson told Key 103.

“Last week we stole one, so maybe that balances itself out.

“But we are still angry at ourselves at losing late goals. We have got this great record of scoring late goals, but we have suffered from it on the opposite side this season.”

United next face North West rivals Wigan at Old Trafford on Saturday and Ferguson is not under-estimating Roberto Martinez’s side, despite the fact they lie just outside the relegation zone.

Capable side

“They are a capable side, who seem to be turning the corner in terms of consistency,” said Ferguson.

“Roberto Martinez gets the rewards himself by sticking to his philosophy, which is good.

“It shows he has strong management and his players now believe in it too.”