Slump will not go on for Evra

Patrice Evra has described Manchester United’s slump in form as nothing more than "a little accident".

Like so many of his Old Trafford team-mates, the France defender has gone away on international duty still baffled as to how United’s results have fallen away so quickly.

By the time they are next in action, against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on April 5, they may no longer be top of the table.

Two matches in hand over Liverpool would give the Red Devils a chance to re-establish their supremacy but after a heavy home defeat against Rafael Benitez’s men, followed by a dismal defeat at Fulham, nothing can be taken for granted.

However, Evra is confident United will soon be back to their best.

“I have been at Manchester United for three years now and this is the first time I have lost two straight matches,” said the former Monaco full-back.

“I am sure it is just a little accident.”

With 20 players away, Ferguson has taken the bold decision to take on Villa just 48 hours before United entertain FC Porto in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Red Devils chief did have the option of moving the Premier League game back a day, with a 12.45pm kick-off already pencilled in.

However, Ferguson felt an extra day’s preparation would be beneficial given the likes of Carlos Tevez and Anderson – who are both in line to face Martin O’Neill’s men when Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic will all be suspended – will not return from draining trips to South America until Friday afternoon.