Special features

Fergie gracious in defeat

United boss accepts his side were second best

Last updated: 7th January 2009

Ferguson: United were far from vintage

Also see

Sir Alex Ferguson was gracious in defeat after conceding his side were fortunate to come away from Pride Park with only a 1-0 defeat.

An entertaining Carling Cup semi-final first leg was decided by Kris Commons' stunning first half strike from distance and it could have been worse for Ferguson's side had County not spurned a number of other opportunities.

Ferguson left Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench until the middle of the second half but even the introduction of the talismanic duo could not shake-up what was a lacklustre display.

Given the below-par nature of United's performance, Ferguson was grateful at the game's conclusion to only be nursing a one-goal deficit.

"The positive to take from the game is the fact we only lost 1-0," Ferguson told Sky Sports 1.

"It was a fantastic result for us tonight considering the performance.

"I think we are lucky. We could have lost by more.

"In any semi-final you hope to give yourself breathing space and you hope to win the game.

"But we expect to recover from a 1-0 deficit against anyone at Old Trafford and I am sure we will.

"We were so bad and Derby will rue the fact they didn't score more."

Ferguson insisted he would not bring in his first-choice players for the second leg.

"No, no, I think we'll persevere. The younger players deserve it - they were our better players tonight."