Posh clash top of Fergie's wish list

24 September 2009 07:33
Ferguson watched 10-man Manchester United book their place in the fourth round with a 1-0 win over Wolves at Old Trafford thanks to Danny Welbeck's 66th-minute strike. United will learn their next opponents in Saturday's draw and Ferguson is in no doubt who he wants. "Peterborough at home," he said. "All the family should be happy with that." Ferguson cannot expect an easier time than United had this evening, even though Brazilian teenager Fabio was sent off for a professional foul after less than half an hour. The Red Devils made light of the imbalance in numbers and might have been in front before England Under-21 international Welbeck netted a stylish matchwinner, racing onto Michael Owen's return pass before sliding his shot past Marcus Hahnemann. "It was a fantastic goal," purred Ferguson. "There was some quality passing involved in the move and he took it really well. "It was obviously a difficult job for him, playing with 10 men for so long, but the goal told you everything about the boy's quality. He earned it." Ferguson had no complaints over Fabio's dismissal for hauling down Michael Kightly after the youngster had slipped as he attempted to make a tackle. The Scot was delighted with his side's discipline in possession, which left Wolves chasing shadows for long periods under Kevin Doyle brought a bit of spark late on. But, having changed his entire starting line-up from Sunday's breathtaking win over Manchester City, Ferguson felt vindicated in his selection policy which allowed him to introduce 17-year-old Norwegian Joshua King for his debut, another promising striker to emerge at Old Trafford. "The boy has a really good future," said Ferguson. "In fact, with Welbeck, Federico Macheda and Joshua King we have some really good young strikers. It is a long time since we had a group as good as that coming through the club." Wolves boss Mick McCarthy accused his side of showing a lack of belief when they were facing 10 men. "I preferred it when they had 11," said McCarthy. "Manchester United have done it many times before, against clubs who have been in the Premier League far longer than us. "They pick teams off and get to the other end of the pitch by playing through you. "We were in the game more before they had a man sent off. "But the result was more about us, our confidence and our belief in beating a team with 10 men." Yet McCarthy refused to castigate a team for whom Kightly and former United striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake were returning after extended periods on the sidelines. "We have been in the Premier League for three months," he said. "That doesn't make us a Premier League team. We are a football club that has got itself into the Premier League and for most of the time we have competed. "Manchester United are arguably the best team in Europe. Liverpool have a similar set-up, and Arsenal. "We are snotty-nosed kids coming up from the Championship. "Is it a case of us coming up here and having our bellies tickled and for them to say, 'thanks for coming'? "I don't like that. But it is part of the learning process."

Source: Team_Talk