{"id":382403,"date":"2011-04-19T22:35:58","date_gmt":"2011-04-19T22:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/19\/ferguson-bullish-over-title-hopes\/"},"modified":"2011-04-19T22:35:58","modified_gmt":"2011-04-19T22:35:58","slug":"ferguson-bullish-over-title-hopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/19\/ferguson-bullish-over-title-hopes\/","title":{"rendered":"Ferguson bullish over title hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Wayne<\/p>\n

Wayne Rooney protests after Javier Hernandez is denied a penalty late on<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted minimal damage had been done to his side’s title push despite their 0-0 draw at Newcastle.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Red Devils were not at their best as they missed the chance to go nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal and 11 clear of Chelsea in third.<\/p>\n

But Ferguson said: “We are in a better position than we were on Saturday.<\/p>\n

“We have played one less game and are in the same position we were with Arsenal with five games left.”<\/p>\n

Arsenal can move to within four points of Manchester United with a win at Tottenham on Wednesday, while Chelsea could move to within six points if they win their game in hand.<\/p>\n

And as both sides face United in the run-in, Ferguson admits his side face some crucial matches in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

\n
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\"Newcastle<\/p>\n

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Please turn on JavaScript.<\/strong> Media requires JavaScript to play.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Pardew congratulates ‘brave’ referee<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

“There are two important games going to come up, obviously, and that’s the Arsenal game away and the Chelsea game at home,” said the Scot, whose side are chasing a record 19th top-flight title.<\/p>\n

“You have got to look at Chelsea also and how they respond with the three home games in a row now.”<\/p>\n

Ferguson’s side were rarely at their fluent best at St James’s Park and yet still had enough chances to win it.<\/p>\n

Javier Hernandez forced a superb early save from Newcastle keeper Tim Krul, Wayne Rooney wasted a fine chance one-on-one and Ryan Giggs skewed wide with the goal gaping midway through the second half.<\/p>\n

But Newcastle will feel they deserved a point for a bullish display that ensured United were never able to settle into a rhythm.<\/p>\n

In the end, the match hinged on two penalty decisions – neither given – the first when Peter Lovenkrands went over Anderson’s challenge in the Manchester United box and the other in stoppage time at the other end when Hernandez was booked for a dive, despite appearing to be caught by Newcastle defender Danny Simpson in the box.<\/p>\n

And Ferguson was adamant referee Lee Probert got the second decision wrong, saying: “It was a clear penalty and it’s an insult because he’s booked him.<\/p>\n

“I thought the referee had a good game tonight, but he’s let himself down by booking the player.<\/p>\n

“If it’s not a penalty, fine, but to book him is an insult. There is definitely contact, no doubt about that.”<\/p>\n

Magpies boss Alan Pardew, however, insisted Simpson’s challenge did not warrant a penalty.<\/p>\n

“My heart sank at the end because I thought the ref had given it,” he said. “The history of Manchester United – last-minute goals, the club that they are, the manager that they have, I honestly thought the referee had given it.<\/p>\n

“You have to applaud him for the decision he made because it was the correct decision.<\/p>\n

“Danny stuck a leg out, if I am honest, but just retrieved it back in and Hernandez went over. He took that opportunity and in the last minute, I don’t criticise him for that – I might have done it myself – but the referee got the decision right and we got, in my opinion, a deserved draw.”<\/p>\n

Newcastle’s point took them to 40 for the season and lifted them back into ninth place, ever closer to booking their place in next season’s top flight.<\/p>\n

“With our goal difference, you would like to think it’s probably enough,” added Pardew. “But we have five games left and we have still got a great opportunity to finish in the top 10.<\/p>\n

“With the suspensions and injuries that we have and the player we lost in the window Andy Carroll, we can be very proud of that.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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