Reading win could be crucial: Ferguson

AFP - 20 January 2008 03:43

Manchester United´s Wayne Rooney(R) runs with the ball against Reading during the Premiership match at the Madejski Stadium in Reading. Rooney scored one then set up Cristiano Ronaldo for his 23rd goal of the season as a Manchester United late show shot down Reading with a 2-0 win.

READING, England (AFP) - Sir Alex Ferguson believes the last-ditch win his side claimed over Reading was exactly the kind of victory that proves critical at the end of Premier League campaigns.

A Wayne Rooney strike 13 minutes from the end was followed by the England forward setting up Cristiano Ronaldo to claim his 23rd goal of the season in injury time and Ferguson admitted his relief that Steve Coppell's side had finally given way.

"You do start to worry as the game goes on and on whether you are going to get the goal and it has taken a lovely flick from Wayne to open them up," said the Scot.

"Reading really do make you work and I think it is a very important result for us. By the end we were quite happy to get through it."

United did not have the razor-sharp cutting edge they had displayed in knocking six goals past Newcastle the previous weekend.

"Considering the number of opportunities we had, maybe our decision-making in the final third of the field wasn't at its best," Ferguson admitted.

But the United boss, who takes his squad to Saudi Arabia this week for a testimonial match and a warm weather training camp, remains highly satisfied with the way the season is unfolding.

"As a team we are looking very strong at the moment and are looking better and better every week," he said.

"This is a hard place to come and get a result but we kept on going and got our reward at the end.

"Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez will give any team problems so scoring goals will never be a problem for us, but we are also looking very secure at the back.

"Rio Ferdinand is playing some of the best football I have seen from a defender since I have been at the club and he was magnificent again today."

Reading boss Steve Coppell believes United are on track to retain the title.

"They are a great side and a good result for us would have been to pick up a point," he said. "If they stay fit and depending how long they stay in Europe I think United could just win the title from Arsenal and Chelsea by a nose."

Coppell opted to try and play United at their own game, fielding two strikers in Dave Kitson and Leroy Lita with Stephen Hunt attacking from the right wing.

"We thought 'What have we got to lose, let's go for it' and for 70 minutes we gave as good as we got.

"If we had nicked three points it would have been history here, that is how big the opposition are. A point here would have been terrific for us.

"But you look at their incisive individuals - and by that I mean Ronaldo and Rooney.

"By and large we handled the other nine well but over the course of 90 minutes their appetite will create openings and opportunities. In the end it was one too many."

United might have had a more relaxed afternoon if Ronaldo had not spurned a glorious chance to score just before the hour mark, when he lashed the ball over the bar from eight yards after being found by Rio Ferdinand.

The champions finally broke the deadlock in the 77th minute when Tevez dinked a delightful ball into the box for Rooney to score with a deft flick with the outside of the box.

Reading went close to spoiling the party when Kevin Doyle hit the ball just wide with a firm header after United failed to clear a corner but it was to be Ronaldo who had the last word of the afternoon.