Fergie Fuming over blunders

Stuttgart 2 Manchester United 1

The big Dutchman had given United hope by shooting past Timo Hildebrand in the 66th minute after the keeper had hauled down Ronaldo.

But United were already reeling from two goals in three minutes early in the second-half which both resulted from uncharacteristic defensive lapses.

Tim Howard did his best to spare United's blushes in the 79th minute when he dived right to turn Fernando Meira's spot-kick for Stuttgart around the post after Rio Ferdinand had upended Kuranyi. But disjointed United could not capitalise on his heroics and slumped from the field knowing they badly need to regroup in time for the now crucial visit to Group E rivals Rangers later this month.

Alex Ferguson's men were always going to be up against it after going behind to a team who had only conceded two goals in their nine games so far this season. Both those goals had been leaked in the Germans' trip to Rangers last month, but they settled from the start in their first-ever Champions League game in the Neckarstadion.

United by contrast had thumped Panathinaikos 5-0 to get their Group E campaign off to a flyer and Ferguson named another attacking side, Ronaldo handed his first European start.

Ferguson blamed "terrible" defensive blunders for his side's shock defeat.

The Manchester United boss was left stunned after two errors inside three second-half minutes gifted the Germans their victory. Ferguson said: "We defended terribly for the two goals and if you defend badly in games of this nature you deserve everything that happens to you.

"From a position of control we surrendered within minutes and allowed Stuttgart to become strong."

Gary Neville was at fault for Imre Szabics' 51st-minute opener when he challenged unnecessarily for a header which gave the Croatian space to shoot past Tim Howard.

Then two minutes later it got worse as Szabics' defence-splitting ball found Kevin Kuranyi in space on the right to shoot home what turned out to be the winner.

Ferguson added: "We committed ourselves to winning balls we shouldn't have been winning, all we needed to do was drop off to the edge of the box and be patient."

The United boss will have a worrying few days checking the fitness of Ferdinand after the defender limped off following the challenge which gave away a late penalty, which Howard saved.

He added: "We will take a look at it tomorrow. It was just a collision with the centre-forward and I don't think it was serious but we will wait and see."

Ferguson's only bonuses were the return to penalty-taking form of Ruud van Nistelrooy, and the fine spot-kick save from Howard which prevented a potentially much more severe defeat. He added: "We maybe had a bit of fortune tonight with the save from Tim Howard because that goal might mean something to us when Stuttgart come to Old Trafford."

Stuttgart coach Felix Magath hailed one of his side's finest-ever nights in European, but admitted he was disappointed by the penalty award against his side.

Goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand was penalised for apparently pushing over Ronaldo in the box but Magath said: "I think the actions of our goalkeeper were absolutely correct.

"He was going for the ball and he used his hands, so there was no reason to give a penalty."

VFB STUTTGART: Hildebrand, Hinkel, Lahm (Gerber 71), Meira, Bordon, Hleb (Meissner 87), Vranjes (Tiffert 73), Soldo, Heldt, Szabics, Kuranyi.

MAN UTD: Howard, Gary Neville, O'Shea (Fortune 65), Silvestre, Ferdinand (Forlan 82), Phil Neville, Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo (Fletcher 90), van Nistelrooy, Giggs.