CHAMPION IS MANCHESTER

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says his team is ready to defend league title when positioned in the top standings in the new year.

"When the new year we are top of league standings or in the top two with (Manchester) City, then I would be happy," says Alex Ferguson will be 70 years old on December 31.

Manchester United will face Blackburn on Saturday, December 31 with the position in second place behind Manchester City with the same points but with different goals.

United beat Wigan 5-0 at Old Trafford last Monday while City drew West Brom.

Currently Manchester United's only goal with five different City, margin goals in the victory at Old Trafford City last October 6 to 1.
'Helped referee'

"I have said this several times that there are teams who will suffer in the face of us and we played well today and the threat of a goal can be done from any side," said Ferguson.

"But a growing number of injured players - Phil Jones and Chris Smalling sick, injured backs Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans also injured," he added.

But United held to a draw CV Blackburn, Ferguson foster children will be perched in first place league standings, because Manchester City will play one day later to face Sunderland.

Despite facing a problem with defender, United's efforts to fruition in front of goal with Dimitar Berbatov's hat-trick against Wigan.

But United's somewhat helped by referee Phil Dowd's decision, which gives the player a red card against Wigan Conor Sammon in the first round when position 1-0 to United.

"I think it's an accident," said Ferguson defended Sammon who was sent off for being crush Michael Carrick.

"The red card was a shocking decision," said the Wigan manager Roberto Martinez