Fergie: our defending is not acceptable

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson admitted last night that the absence of suspended defender Rio Ferdinand has tilted the Premiership title balance towards Highbury.

Ferguson was furious with more slack defending in the 3-2 Middlesbrough defeat which left United five points adrift of hot title favourites Arsenal.

It means United have now conceded an amazing eight goals in their last three league matches, a run which has coincided with Ferdinand starting his eight-month suspension for a missed drugs test.