Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

United flops anger Ferguson

04 Jan 2010 - 07:26:56

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Furious Sir Alex Ferguson has promised to make changes to his Manchester United side following what he described as a 'shocking' FA Cup defeat to Leeds United.

United's first third-round defeat of Ferguson's lengthy managerial reign and a first to a lower league club since Bournemouth in 1984 left the veteran Scot fuming.

Jermaine Beckford's first-half goal left Old Trafford stunned and Ferguson has promised changes for the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Wednesday.

"We have a semi-final on Wednesday night and a lot of these players won't be playing," he fumed.

"You have to view that performance in its right light.

"I am shocked by the performance because our preparation for the game was very good. We never got going. The quality of the passing and whole performance was bad.

"Leeds had far bigger appetite than us. We didn't start right, Leeds got their goal and it was something to hold onto."

Ferguson also criticised the decision of referee Chris Foy to add only five minutes for stoppages at the end of the game.

"The referee gave five minutes," he added. "That is an insult to the game and the players out there."

Ferguson has regularly criticised referee's time-keeping this season and currently has a suspended two-match touchline ban hanging over his head.