Fergie:
"It was a ridiculous scoreline.
"They pulled everyone to the edge of their box, just as they did last season and looked for the scraps.
"They ended up scoring with their first shot. It is very frustrating but that is football. It has happened before and it will happen again. You just have to accept it.
"We have only played four games and it is very early yet.
"We are playing with great confidence and team spirit. We don't look like getting beaten either, so that is a good sign."
More:
"They didn't deserve what they got, but that's football.
"We could have scored two or three more and we were a bit unlucky. We needed the second goal because there was always going to be some point where they had a go, and they scored with their first shot.
"In the end it took a great save from Edwin van der Sar to stop Andy Cole getting the winner, which would have been a ridiculous scoreline.
"We've had quite a tough programme, but the team is playing well and there is good confidence and a great team spirit."
Pearce:
"I love ridiculous scorelines.
"If Sir Alex thinks we were defensive that is a fantastic compliment because he knows best.
"You name me a side that is not defensive when it comes here. United will not get so few chances in a match again this season and we did not deserve to lose.
"Hopefully we are built on a more organised foundation and the players are starting to believe that if you do the right thing you get your rewards.
"We don't want boom and bust at this football club, either in transfer policy or on the pitch. I want steady progress.
"The players must know exactly what they are doing from the first minute to the last. We are the poor relations in this city in terms of finance, but we are not poor relations in terms of team spirit."