Ferguson counting on two more years from Giggs

Sir Alex Ferguson believes he can get at least another two years of five-star service from Ryan Giggs.

The evergreen Welshman, who scored his 100th Premier League goal in Manchester United’s 4-1 win at Portsmouth, turned 36 on Sunday and is currently playing some of the best football of his career.

Wayne Rooney’s first hat-trick for United since October 2006 laid the foundations for the champions’ victory at Fratton Park but the artistry of Giggs, who curled in a late free-kick, was every bit as significant.

“Happy Birthday Ryan,” Ferguson said. “He has had it 36 times in his life, wait until he gets to 67 – I think he will be retired by then!

“He is an exceptional player – a rarity. He will play for two years yet.”

Portsmouth put up a spirited performance in Avram Grant’s first match in charge but, having got to the interval on level terms, the side propping up the Premier League were unable to cope as the champions switched through the gears after the break.

“It was a great result for us because 4-1 away from home is always something you are pleased with,” Ferguson said. “The second half was good, we played well.

“Half-time came at a good time for us but the important thing was to keep our discipline and composure and play our football.

“An early goal in the second half was good because we had to chase and the game could open up for you and that is what happened.

“Wayne took the goal very well and it was a smashing pass from Ryan. You always want your strikers to score, Wayne has got the match-ball which is nice.”

Two of Rooney’s goals came from the spot, with the first coming on 25 minutes after he was clipped by Portsmouth captain Michael Brown.

The home side’s equaliser also came from a penalty, Kevin-Prince Boateng converting after Nemanja Vidic was spotted tugging at Frederic Piquionne?s shirt.

Ferguson, who was serving the first match of a two-game touchline ban for previous disparaging comments about referees, was relatively restrained in his analysis of the decision.

“The linesman has put the referee under terrible pressure and he has to listen to the linesman who is 50 yards away. You see these things every weekend in the penalty box,” Ferguson said.

“If you are saying everyone who wrestles at a corner or tugs a jersey concedes a penalty kick then that is fine, but it does not happen that way and this linesman has changed the whole course of decision making.”

After the break United dominated and within eight minutes Rooney had his hat-trick, first finishing from eight yards from Giggs? first-time cross and then again from 12 yards after Piquionne had felled the Welshman.

Thomas Kuszczak, in deputising for Edwin van der Sar, denied Boateng with a fine low save and tipped substitute John Utaka’s rasping effort onto the bar as Portsmouth attempted to get back into the match.

But it was Giggs who had the final word as his delicate free-kick beat Asmir Begovic from 20 yards.

Grant, whose last game in management before Saturday was Chelsea’s Champions League final penalty shoot-out defeat to United in Moscow in 2008, acknowledged there was a lot of work to be done if his new charges are to climb out of the relegation zone.

“It was one of those strange games,” Grant said. “If I came from the moon and heard the result I would have thought Man Utd played great and Portsmouth was not so good but we played very well.

“We created lots of chances, Tomasz Kusczak had to make some fine saves but we conceded a soft penalty and some bad goals.

“Everybody can see we play football, the spirit is good but there are a few things missing.

“Now our target is staying in the league, it won’t be easy but it will be possible. The football was good and the spirit but there are things we have to do better – first to take points. When we play against teams close to us we need to win them.”

Grant expects to make signings when the transfer window opens, adding: “In January of course we want to make the squad stronger and we will do.”