Manchester United manager praised his team's team spirit after they snatched a 1-0 win over Bolton on Saturday to extend their lead at the top to five points.
Dimitar Berbatov's 88th-minute strike was enough to win it for United and with second-placed Arsenal held 2-2 at West Bromwich Albion, United now sit five points clear of the rest.
"This was not a 100-per-cent top performance from us but we never gave in," Ferguson said. "That is what the character of this club is all about. No other club in the country has got that.
"We are fantastic at gritting our teeth and getting something out of a dead situation."
United's task was made that much more difficult when Johnny Evans was sent off for a nasty challenge on Stuart Holden with 15 minutes to go, a tackle that forced the Bolton man to go to hospital.
Bolton matched United for long periods of the match and could have gone ahead when Matt Taylor headed straight at Edwin van der Sar just after Evans had been sent off.
But as so often down the years, United found a way to win it late on, with Berbatov first to react when Jussi Jaaskelainen could only spill a shot from Nani.
The five-point lead could have been six because Arsenal trailed 2-0 at lowly West Bromwich Albion, thanks to goals by Steven Reid and Peter Odemwingie.
But goals from Andriy Arshavin and Robin van Persie pulled them level back after Steven Reid and Peter Odemwingie had given the home side a shock 2-0 lead.
Arsene Wenger's side chased the winner and dominated possession in the final stages but could not find the net and had to settle for a point, leaving them five off the pace, albeit with a game in hand.
But despite losing ground on the leaders, Wenger said he believed the way his side recovered to at least earn a point could stand them in good stead in the title run-in.
"The pitch was very difficult for us and it was difficult to pass at top speed, so it was almost more down to character and resilience - and we have shown plenty," Wenger said.
"Mathematically we lost two points, but psychologically I think we won a point, because when you are 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go, you cannot be too unhappy with this comeback."
"I said that no matter happened today, it would not be over, but for the team it was important not to lose.
"With what has happened to us recently, you wonder how we would have recovered if we had lost the game today."
Tottenham Hotspur missed a chance to go alongside Chelsea in fourth as they were held to a goalless draw by a battling West Ham side.
Harry Redknapp's side created numerous chances to score but West Ham hung on to clinch a draw, lifting them one point above the bottom three.
Tottenham remain fifth, two points behind Chelsea in the race for the final Champions League spot next season, ruing their failure to score, though Michael Dawson and Gareth Bale both hit the bar and Jermain Defoe, Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric all went close.
"I was really pleased with the way we played today," Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said. "Passing was great, we made loads of chances, we just couldn't get the break in front of goal.
"It was one of those matches. They defended well but we kept hitting the woodwork today, and you need a bit of luck in front of goal."
At the other end of the table, one point separate the bottom eight sides with bottom side Wigan Athletic and third-from-bottom Wolves claiming vital victories.
Maynor Figueroa's late goal sealed a 2-1 win for Wigan, who are now just one point adrift, while Matt Jarvis scored the only goal as Wolves won 1-0 at Aston Villa to drag their neighbours into the survival battle.
Blackpool are only three points off the bottom despite a 2-2 draw at Blackburn while Fulham, in 12th, are only four points above the relegation zone after they went down 2-1 at Everton in the day's late match.
Stoke City crushed Newcastle United 4-0 in the day's other game.
On Sunday, third-placed Manchester City travel to fourth-placed Chelsea while sixth-placed Liverpool play at Sunderland.
Dimitar Berbatov's 88th-minute strike was enough to win it for United and with second-placed Arsenal held 2-2 at West Bromwich Albion, United now sit five points clear of the rest.
"This was not a 100-per-cent top performance from us but we never gave in," Ferguson said. "That is what the character of this club is all about. No other club in the country has got that.
"We are fantastic at gritting our teeth and getting something out of a dead situation."
United's task was made that much more difficult when Johnny Evans was sent off for a nasty challenge on Stuart Holden with 15 minutes to go, a tackle that forced the Bolton man to go to hospital.
Bolton matched United for long periods of the match and could have gone ahead when Matt Taylor headed straight at Edwin van der Sar just after Evans had been sent off.
But as so often down the years, United found a way to win it late on, with Berbatov first to react when Jussi Jaaskelainen could only spill a shot from Nani.
The five-point lead could have been six because Arsenal trailed 2-0 at lowly West Bromwich Albion, thanks to goals by Steven Reid and Peter Odemwingie.
But goals from Andriy Arshavin and Robin van Persie pulled them level back after Steven Reid and Peter Odemwingie had given the home side a shock 2-0 lead.
Arsene Wenger's side chased the winner and dominated possession in the final stages but could not find the net and had to settle for a point, leaving them five off the pace, albeit with a game in hand.
But despite losing ground on the leaders, Wenger said he believed the way his side recovered to at least earn a point could stand them in good stead in the title run-in.
"The pitch was very difficult for us and it was difficult to pass at top speed, so it was almost more down to character and resilience - and we have shown plenty," Wenger said.
"Mathematically we lost two points, but psychologically I think we won a point, because when you are 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go, you cannot be too unhappy with this comeback."
"I said that no matter happened today, it would not be over, but for the team it was important not to lose.
"With what has happened to us recently, you wonder how we would have recovered if we had lost the game today."
Tottenham Hotspur missed a chance to go alongside Chelsea in fourth as they were held to a goalless draw by a battling West Ham side.
Harry Redknapp's side created numerous chances to score but West Ham hung on to clinch a draw, lifting them one point above the bottom three.
Tottenham remain fifth, two points behind Chelsea in the race for the final Champions League spot next season, ruing their failure to score, though Michael Dawson and Gareth Bale both hit the bar and Jermain Defoe, Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric all went close.
"I was really pleased with the way we played today," Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said. "Passing was great, we made loads of chances, we just couldn't get the break in front of goal.
"It was one of those matches. They defended well but we kept hitting the woodwork today, and you need a bit of luck in front of goal."
At the other end of the table, one point separate the bottom eight sides with bottom side Wigan Athletic and third-from-bottom Wolves claiming vital victories.
Maynor Figueroa's late goal sealed a 2-1 win for Wigan, who are now just one point adrift, while Matt Jarvis scored the only goal as Wolves won 1-0 at Aston Villa to drag their neighbours into the survival battle.
Blackpool are only three points off the bottom despite a 2-2 draw at Blackburn while Fulham, in 12th, are only four points above the relegation zone after they went down 2-1 at Everton in the day's late match.
Stoke City crushed Newcastle United 4-0 in the day's other game.
On Sunday, third-placed Manchester City travel to fourth-placed Chelsea while sixth-placed Liverpool play at Sunderland.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire