Ferguson laments injury-ravaged squad

Alex Ferguson surveyed his injury-ravaged squad and admitted it was the “worst start” Manchester United had ever experienced as he prepared for Wednesday’s crucial Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Bucharest.

The 3-1 defeat by Arsenal in yesterday’s FA Community Shield was far from easy to take for the Scot, whose side levelled through a fine second-half strike from summer signing Alan Smith but were eventually undone by a smart finish from Jose Reyes before Mikael Silvestre put through his own net.