Ferguson beaten but proud

Sir Alex Ferguson lamented some poor defending from set pieces on Saturday as his side’s 2-1 loss to Wolves ended a 29-game unbeaten streak.

Wolves responded well after going a goal down to a Nani strike early on, and goals from George Elokobi and Kevin Doyle handed them a memorable victory, although they remain at the bottom of the English Premier League on goal difference.

Ferguson said that while he was disappointed to see his men suffer their first league loss of the season, he was proud of the way his side had been playing.

“I’m disappointed obviously, it’s been a long run for us,” Ferguson told ESPN.

“The players have done us all proud; we can be pleased with that part, but today in the second half we didn’t really get going.”

“The consistency that we’ve shown over the past two months has been terrific so today was a big disappointment.”

“I’ve said that before the game, and it stands strong again after the game. They are a handful on set-pieces as they proved today, and it’s cost us the game.”

Ferguson also revealed that central defender Rio Ferguson had strained a calf during the warm-up for the game and will be sidelined for ‘a couple of weeks’.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, meanwhile, was delighted to have picked up three points and is hoping to use the shock result as a springboard to lift his side out of the drop zone, targeting greater consistency in the final third of the season.

“We are in this position because whilst we have beaten some of the top teams, we have been bobbins against those around us. West Ham, Wigan, Blackpool – they have all taken points from us,” McCarthy said.

“It is all right lounging around and basking in the sunny day of beating Manchester United, we have to do it against other teams and do damage to them to make sure we preserve our Premier League status.”