Sir Alex: We Got Lucky

Sir Alex Ferguson admits United got a lucky break with the penalty award against QPR which paved the way for another important victory in the Reds' quest for a 20th league title.

Shaun Derry was sent off for his tug on Ashley Young in the area on 14 minutes, but replays showed the United winger was clearly in an offside position when the ball was played through by Wayne Rooney, who calmly converted the spot-kick.

"Ashley was a yard offside so I can understand Mark [Hughes] being angry and disappointed at that. You see these kinds of decisions every week though," Sir Alex told MUTV.

"The boy's just got a little tug on Young, not a great deal but enough to get us the penalty. And unfortunately he was the last defender and had to be sent off.

"The sending-off didn't help us at all. I was actually more confident before that in terms of the speed of our play and the movement of the team which was very good.

"The second goal from Scholes calmed everyone down. Before that we'd kept missing those vital chances. Welbeck was through, then we hit the bar and the post and balls were flying across the box, but it just wouldn't go in."

The 2-0 win over Mark Hughes' side sent the Reds eight points clear of Manchester City with Sir Alex insisting he wasn't concerned with the Blues' later match away to Arsenal.

"The important thing about today was we won," added the boss. "We'll have to wait and see what happens at the Emirates but we've done our job."