Last updated: 3rd October 2008
Ferguson: Happy with discipline
Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected claims his Manchester United side have been dirty this season, despite a disciplinary record that points to the contrary.
While United normally steer clear of the only table they do not want to top, this term has seen them pick up 15 yellow cards and one red.
Seven of their players were booked at Chelsea a fortnight ago and Nemanja Vidic's red card came at Anfield, but Ferguson claims the unwelcome stats are down to tough away days rather than ill-discipline.
"We've had two of our toughest away games in a row, at Liverpool and Chelsea," Ferguson said in the Daily Mirror.
"It's very difficult for a referee at Liverpool, as we all know.
"And if you analyse the Chelsea game there wasn't a bad tackle in the match.
"So I've no problem with the discipline of my team, none at all. We always try to play our football, play the right way and that's the way we will continue."
In other United news, Ferguson has offered words of encouragement to injured goalkeeper Ben Foster.
The highly-promising custodian is currently sidelined after undergoing ankle surgery last month but his manager has urged him to draw inspiration from Gary Neville, who this season has returned from an injury that kept him out of action for 15 months.
"Ben is the most talented young keeper we have had for a long time and what the boy needs now is a slice of luck," Ferguson added.
"But if he feels the fates are against him he should look at Gary Neville.
"When you consider the fact he has been plagued with injuries, he's done brilliantly to come back so convincingly.
"He is a role model for any player feeling down on his luck with injury."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Sunderland |
| Wednesday 10th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Man Utd vs AaB |
| Saturday 13th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Tottenham vs Man Utd |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| Tuesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | West Brom vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Liverpool |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 3rd December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 5 - 3 Blackburn | |
| Sunday 30th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Tuesday 25th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 15th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 5 - 0 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 11th November | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 QPR | |
| Saturday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 2 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 5th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Celtic 1 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 4 - 3 Hull | |
| Wednesday 29th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 West Ham | |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Tuesday 21st October | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 Celtic | |
| Saturday 18th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 4 - 0 West Brom | |
| Saturday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Tuesday 30th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| AaB 0 - 3 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Bolton | |
| Tuesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 3 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 21st September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 17th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Villarreal | |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 15 | 34 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 15 | 33 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 14 | 28 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 15 | 26 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 15 | 25 |
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