FERGUSON HAPPY WITH HIS MIDFIELD

In his programme notes Ferguson said: "It's been a nightmare in that area [midfield] and I have had to chop and change as we cast about for a balance and a partnership that worked.

"Happily John O'Shea and Ryan Giggs have knitted together and provided us with an engine room that has enabled the rest of the team to start functioning at full throttle.

"Ryan has been fantastic. I believe it has been his experience that has got us over the hill. This is his first run in centre midfield and he has brought a calmness to the team.

"We are now playing the kind of football that earlier in the season was proving elusive and saw us lose sight of Chelsea."