Evra Taking It Step By Step

Patrice Evra says it's vital the Reds do not think beyond the next game, away at Stoke City on Sunday, as the players look to get the title charge back on track following the Manchester derby defeat.

Sir Alex's men saw the lead at the top of the table reduced from 15 points to 12 on Monday night following Manchester City's 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.

Evra labelled the loss "painful" but insists no-one in the United camp is pushing the panic button and instead remain focused on picking up the points needed to seal the title as quickly as possible.

"We're really disappointed because we missed the chance to end the title [race] and, of course, we've lost the derby. When you're a Man United player losing to City is painful," he told MUTV. "We played much better in the second half and I really believed we could win the game, but the second goal killed our legs. It's a bad night for us.

"We are still 12 points clear though and now we have to win the next game. Since I've been here I've never lost two games in a row. That's why I hope we'll keep going against Stoke and win. We just have to win the next game.

"I heard a lot of people talking about us being 15 points clear and that we didn't deserve to be. But if that's where we are it's because we're working hard. We must make sure we win at Stoke and show we are the best team in England."

The Reds are unbeaten at Stoke in the Barclays Premier League era but, with Tony Pulis' men fighting for their lives in the relegation battle, Evra is expecting anything but an easy game.

"It's always a difficult place to go. We have to be ready for the fight. We've always left there with three points in recent years but nothing is going to be easy until the end of the season," he insisted.

"We have to make sure we win the next game. That is the most important thing. We are still in a great position but we have to take things game by game and not put pressure on ourselves."