Fergie keeps grinding away

FUNCTIONAL, workmanlike and efficient are not words normally associated with teams built by Alex Ferguson but such virtues were clearly a necessity after his chastening experience at the hands of Roberto Mancini.

On the day Manchester City, Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal lit up the Premier League with swagger and, more importantly, goals, United were securing the type of stress-free, routine, gritty away victory that have become a hallmark under their manager. Since that stunning 6-1 setback against their bitter rivals in October, United have recorded four clean sheets from five league games to erase the memories of earlier in the campaign when their defence frequently displayed uncharacteristic flaws.

This triumph, courtesy of the excellent Phil Jones’ first senior goal, enabled them to stay on the coat tails of Mancini and while they may be lacking the effervescence of previous seasons, there is a formidable look about United at the moment. And with history proving United always turn up the heat when the winter kicks in, it would be churlish to dismiss Ferguson from a title race that City were threatening to run away with.

This was the perfect reaction after United’s Carling Cup dismissal against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. There was collateral damage, however, after Javier Hernandez tore ankle ligaments in an innocuous first-half incident — but United can completely silence the doom and gloom merchants by negotiating their path into the Champions League knockout stages by beating FC Basel in Switzerland on Wednesday.

A trip to Villa Park always acts as a confidence booster for Ferguson anyway. He has not lost a game there since August 1995 when TV pundit Alan Hansen infamously sniped that “you’ll not win anything with kids”. Despite a few late scares, his remarkable hoodoo over Villa was extended for another season thanks to Jones’ brilliantly taken volley in the 20th minute.

With Michael Carrick suspended for Wednesday, Jones was deployed in central midfield and produced an impressive audition. While the England international may admit he is not yet certain of his favoured position, his versatility is admirable. He would probably make a brilliant goalkeeper too.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic also looked assured and relaxed while the only niggling headache for Ferguson will be the lack of chances created for Wayne Rooney. As a result, United are always susceptible to throwing points away but ugly wins are just what Ferguson needed after the capitulation against City.

While Ferguson departed from the Second City with another three points to add to his impressive collection, these are increasingly difficult times for his former pupil at Aberdeen.

Due to his past association with Birmingham City, Alex McLeish was never going to be afforded a honeymoon period and the boos thatreverberated around Villa Park at the end of a moribund first half may have been harsh — but not unexpected.

McLeish only has one win from the last seven games and recent performances have had the signs of a team doomed to a relegation battle about them. Injuries to Shay Given and Jermaine Jenas only piled on the problems, while £9million signing Charles N’Zogbia was omitted from the squad for allegedly failing to turn up for medical treatment.

N’Zogbia has done little to impress since his summer switch from Wigan but McLeish is determined to keep the faith. He said: “I’ve tried to encourage him at every turn, I’m not a tyrant. It’s not me against Charles or against any players.

“Charles has got to be receptive and realise that I want to help him and I want to help every single player at this club because we need all the help we can get.”

A trip to struggling Bolton Wanderers next weekend might just be the break he needs.