LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants his side to cut out the mistakes that played a key role in the champions' thrilling 4-3 derby victory over Manchester City.
United's jaw-dropping win on Sunday was sealed by Michael Owen's stoppage time goal and Ferguson immediately described it as one of the greatest derbies of all time, but the Scot was unhappy with the way his defence allowed City to come from behind three times.
"It spoiled a really emphatic victory because we could have won by six or seven and the fact that we made the mistakes probably made it the best derby game of all time," Ferguson said.
"Would we have rather won 6-0 or had the greatest derby game of all time? I'd rather have won 6-0."
United took the lead in the second minute when Patrice Evra poked a pass to Wayne Rooney, who took a touch before stabbing his shot past Shay Given.
But City striker Carlos Tevez, who received a predictably hostile reception from the Old Trafford crowd on his first return to United, had recovered from a knee injury in time to start and played a key role in his side's 16th minute equaliser.
He refused to give Ben Foster time to kick downfield and, as the United goalkeeper dithered, Tevez stole possession before slipping a pass for Gareth Barry to shoot into the empty net.
United regained the lead in the 49th minute when Darren Fletcher headed home a Ryan Giggs cross.
Their advantage was short-lived as Craig Bellamy curled in a stunning long-range effort three minutes later.
Fletcher struck again in the 80th minute with another header, this time from Giggs's free-kick.
City looked to have stolen a point when Bellamy out-paced Rio Ferdinand and squeezed in a 90th minute equaliser.
But Owen, on as a substitute, had the last word when he converted Giggs's pass in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
There was more derby drama in London as Chelsea extended their 100-percent start to the season with a controversial 3-0 victory over Tottenham, while Liverpool lie in third place after Fernando Torres scored twice in a hard-fought 3-2 win at West Ham.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea won their sixth consecutive league game under new boss Carlo Ancelotti but their derby triumph wasn't without controversy.
Leading 1-0 through Ashley Cole's 32nd minute goal, Chelsea were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Robbie Keane tumbled under Ricardo Carvalho's late challenge.
Chelsea took full advantage of that escape as Michael Ballack poked in Frank Lampard's pass in the 58th minute before Didier Drogba added a third goal five minutes later.
Liverpool were never behind at Upton Park but were pegged back twice by West Ham.
Alessandro Diamanti scoring a controversial penalty to cancel out Torres's solo opener and Carlton Cole nodding home after Dirk Kuyt had stabbed before Torres hit the winner.
Thomas Vermaelen repaid another chunk of the ten million pounds it cost to buy him from Ajax with Arsenal's first two goals, taking the centreback's tally for his new employers to four after only eight matches, in his side's 4-0 win over Wigan at the Emirates Stadium.
Aston Villa put the pre-match controversy over Nigel Reo-Coker's bust-up with manager Martin O'Neill to one side to claim a 2-0 win over Portsmouth, who became the first side to lose their first six matches since the launch of the Premier League in 1992-93.
Everton defeated Blackburn 3-0 at Goodison Park to claim just their second win in five league games.
Wolverhampton claimed their first home win of the season as Mick McCarthy's men beat Fulham 2-1.
David Nugent marked his home debut for Burnley with a double as the Clarets notched up their third straight win at home with a 3-1 defeat of Sunderland.
A late Matt Taylor penalty salvaged a point for Bolton after Dave Kitson had given Stoke the lead at the Reebok Stadium.
Birmingham took all three points from their visit to Hull thanks to Scotland striker Garry O'Connor's near-post header from a Keith Fahey corner.






Comment 1 - 11 of 11
JatoO... robbie keane should have had a penalty which most likely would have altered the game in spurs favour so yes, chelsea's win was more if not more controversial than Utd's.
And Brian you're a fool to believe Rio is finished also..
cokrowinoto you're talking rubbish mate.. way to early to be throwing those kind of words around. Where's the experiment? Foster is in goal to replace the injured VDS, granted he made a big gaff and is by no means the finished article but he's one for the future. Where do you get off saying Rio should be phased out? Because he made a mistake against Bellamy who had a a few yards on him in pace? Grow up. Rio has been immense for us these last couple of seasons. You may have a point with Berbs but we can only tell his value to the team after this season is complete and only after not before. Owen will start to feature moreso and competition will be rife. Just think before you start blurting out rubbish pal.
MiChael is
sOmething
trObling you?
No? well pi.sh off and worry about your own team!
Foster will never be good enough for ManUnited. Ferdinand should be phased out now. Berbatov must deliver this season or be shipped out. The midfield needs to be established soon. In other words the first eleven should by now be clear. Experimentation with the team can only cause uncertainty among the players. It is quite worrying to see that with so many chances, ManUnited have managed only four goals. Admittedly Given played a good game last night but some of those chances should have been converted. ManUnited no longer have the luxury of time now if they want to reestablish their supremacy in the EPL and indeed the CL.
I am sorry to say it but it appears to me that Ferdinand is just about finished. He does not read the game and the mistakes he is making in important games border on the ridiculous. Further, his pace has gone as demonstrated by being out-paced by Bellamy for City's third goal. I said a few weeks ago that United should have made a bid for Hangeland when the window was open. United will get burned unless SFA takes some action to address the situation.
Mike thank you.Why dont care if ManU correct their defensive mistakes or not.We The Mighty Reds have three points on our agenda this season.
1)To top this year's EPL. If not(which is impossible)
2)We frustrate ManU in topping the league in any means we have
3)Doing so is by winning ManU at Anfield and OT despite their technical mind game refereeing advantage they do have at OT.
Yesterday's referee is a disgraced to EPL fans through out the world.Bellamy's goal was celebrated in 2minutes and Owens in 2mins 25secs.So therefore the match was supposed to be added extra 2mins 25secs of Owens delayed celebration.
We wont argue Adebayo's suspension anyway but all we think is he would have been red-carded or been intimidated with a yellow card.
Mike thank you.Why dont care if ManU correct their defensive mistakes or not.We The Mighty Reds have three points on our agenda this season.
1)To top this year's EPL. If not
2)We fustrate ManU in topping the league in any means we have
3)Doing so is by winning ManU at Anfield and OT despite their technical mind game refereeing advantage they do have at OT.
Yesterday's referee is a disgraced to EPL fans through out the world.Bellamy's goal was celebrated in 2minutes and Owens in 2mins 25secs.So therefore the match was supposed to be added extra 2mins 25secs of Owens delayed celebration.
We wont argue Adebayo's suspension anyway but all we think is he would have been red-carded or been intimidated with a yellow card.
Point of correction, what makes Chelsea win to be controversial? 3 - 0 against Tottenham that you called controversial? Europe sport should try to be objective in their report about clubs, Man United win wasn't a controversial after over time thatr the late win goal came from Owen.
Is Chelsea 3 - 0 mnore controversial than that of United?
Mike from
Norway
look in the mirror to erase big mistake number 1
AGREED,IF WE WANNA WIN THE LEAGUE YET AGAIN,THIS HAS GOT TO BE SORTED OUT!!!..
PLAIN SIMPLE!!..
nevertheless,wouldnt mind Cesar,the Brilliant Brazilian Inter Milan goalkeeper joining us!!..
p:s..Foster,Watford wants you back!!!..sorry guys,HE'S AINT GOOD ENOUGH!!!...GGMU!!!..
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