Fergie knows value of goals

Ferguson: Total belief in his team

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that his side are performing better than last season, despite trailing leaders Chelsea by eight points.

United suffered their second defeat of the season against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday and sit fourth, although they have the benefit of a game in hand.

Despite their recent slip-up Ferguson remains confident that his side will be challenging at the end of the season

The United boss believes the only reason why his side aren't higher up the table at present is purely because they haven't been taking their chances in front of goal.

He said: "I actually believe the performance level is better than it was last season.

"We have just got to start finding that little extra in terms of our finishing. Life has always been the same here. If you lose a game you have to recover immediately.

"Maybe we need to more ruthless or show more composure at times but there is no doubt, making the chances we are, it will turn for us."

Even an attack boasting the quality of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov can misfire and all have been guilty of missing chances at some stage this season.

It's not only in the striking department where the Red Devils have been struggling. United have conceded five goals in their last two league games but Ferguson is confident his team will turn it around.

He said: "You just have to accept there are some little periods in every season where you just can't put the ball in.

"We have said time and time again, someone will suffer. We just have to concentrate and keep the belief that if we play our football and continue making chances, it will change for us."

United welcome Stoke City to Old Trafford on Saturday and Ferguson insists his side are prepared for the game and in particular Rory Delap's long throws.

He added: "It is not so much the throws themselves, it is the way Delap propels them. They are really flat, which makes them very difficult to defend."

The United boss will not be criticising the way the visitors play and he insists that Stoke are not a dirty team.

He added: "Stoke are an aggressive competitive team. Tony Pulis' sides have always been like that. It is true teams mirror their manager and Tony is very competitive. But they are not a dirty team.

"Some teams have that label but Stoke are not like that. I watched the highlights of their game against Arsenal. There were one or two tasty tackles but nothing over the top."