Fergie: We have handed them initiative

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is so well-versed in footballing dramas that he has coined phrases that have entered the sporting lexicon.

“Squeaky bum time” and “Football, bloody hell” are just two of the phrases associated with the veteran manager who is currently competing for what would be United’s 20th league title.

But, with the Manchester derby at City’s Etihad Stadium a week today now taking on the aspect of a de facto title decider, even Ferguson admits the game will take on a new, heightened significance for him.

“This is definitely the most important derby game I have been involved in,” said Ferguson. “Game on.

“We have given them the initiative and it makes next week a decider really. There will be a reaction obviously. It’s a big game next Monday. ”

United led, at 3-1 and 4-2, only to be undone by some nervous, catastrophic defending, conceding twice to David Moyes’ team in the final eight minutes.

“It was a travesty,” said Fergie. “Some of our football was fantastic, the goals we scored were great goals. But to give away four goals at Old Trafford in a game like that, a game that’s so important, I just can’t believe it.

“It could be costly. We’ve thrown a game away that we should be coasting. But we didn’t so we’ve given ourselves a difficult task.”

Moyes, meanwhile had grounds for complaint after referee Mike Jones allowed United score a second goal while an Everton player was down injured.

“I thought it was rubbish,” said Moyes. “He stopped play (earlier) for Jonny Evans, but referees can make their own rules up.

“Steven Pienaar was down for their second goal and you would have thought if he was being consistent he would have evened it up there. But he never did and they scored from it. ”