PRAVDA

Alex Ferguson was optimistic about the rest of the season after beating Newcastle 3-1 - despite saying United's title hopes were all but over just one week ago.

However, it was clear that last Sunday's 0-0 draw with Man City still riles the Reds boss. Here's a transcript of his post-match interview:

"I think Newcastle put everything into the match. They've worked their socks off, really pressed the ball everywhere and I thought some of our football at times was excellent. I was disappointed losing the goal the way we did. I think it was a bad goal for us to lose. But there was an immediate reaction to it. Straight away we got the penalty kick which took us back in front and at that point I couldn't see us losing."

"I think Paul Scholes was brought down. I think at first it was a handball from their right-back, I think he may have handled it when he slipped, but Paul Scholes was brought down."

"It doesn't redress the balance. A penalty's a penalty. What happened last week was ridiculous, you know. Graham Poll never gives us penalty kicks, it's a well known fact. Last year at Highbury, Ryan Giggs was brought down, it was a clear penalty kick. The year before at Chelsea, there was a clear penalty kick when Paul Scholes was brought down. We have to live with that. What I said before the game was that the breaks even themselves out as the season goes on. Maybe it's our turn to get the breaks now."

"Winning today was good for us. It's a very difficult place to come to, anyone who comes here knows that. Newcastle are a very committed, passionate team and their fans are fantastic, unbelievable fans. We've come away with a victory that maybe other times we wouldn't get."

"We hope so. I can't forecast the future but that's our intent. The desire's there all the time to do that. We've got a great bunch of lads, they're good players and today's performance will do nothing but encourage them."