Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Ferdinand: Defoe strike sparked Reds
MANCHESTER United defender Rio Ferdinand reckons Jermain Defoe's first-minute strike for Tottenham on Saturday provided the spark the Reds needed to turn in a top performance.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men hit back through goals from Ryan Giggs, Anderson and Wayne Rooney.
Ferdinand said: "It was good to be back. When you are out injured it is never good to sit and watch or be at home and around the house when the lads are playing.
"The start was a bit of a wake-up call. It hit home that I was back playing in the first team. It came as a surprise to us all.
"But it bumped us in the right manner. After that we got the ball down and played some of the best football we have played this season."
United had to overcome the loss of Paul Scholes who was sent off for two bookable offences. But Rio defended the midfielder after his second booking for a collision with Tom Huddlestone.
"I didn't think it was a yellow card for Scholesy," Rio said.
"The ref had some funny moments. They both slid in for the tackle and it was a 50-50 ball. If you cannot make a 50-50 tackle these days what can you do?
"Scholesy was unfortunate. If he had rolled around on the floor he might have got away with it but that is the way football is at the moment.
"We dealt well with it when we went down to ten men. We continued to pass the ball around and more or less dominated the game."
Ferguson had a pop at referee Andre Marriner for the sending off.
"It was a ridiculous decision. The Tottenham player is the one who has committed the real foul," said the Reds' boss.
"He had the ball at his feet and it went straight out. Scholesy was a foot above him. He's never touched him. He's been sent off because his name is Paul Scholes. That is why he was sent off.
"It could have mattered. You are down to 10 men against Tottenham and only have a one-goal advantage. It's not easy.
"It was probably the best we have seen of us this season, given the fact that we were a goal down after only one minute."
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