Top Gear? You're Having A Laugh

After yesterday's terrible 1-0 win at Birmingham, Sir Alex believes we are getting near our top form.

United won thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo goal but looked unconvincing up front and sometimes shaky in defence. Yet Fergie is seeing the good signs.

'I think we're getting towards top gear,' he told Setanta Sports. 'You could see signs of that today. Some of the movement up front was very good. Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez are big threats for all our opponents, and the forward line is looking much better now.

'I actually thought Birmingham were by far the better team in the first half, although we did carve out some good chances for ourselves. They played very well and you have to give them full credit. I would say it was the hardest game of the season so far.'

Yes, Birmingham were the better team for much of the game and I agree it was our most difficult match so far. But where are those signs of improvement?

We at least can tell that the team coped reasonably well with Birmingham's aggressivity.

'They were very aggressive, very quick about the pitch,' Fergie said. 'They were a real handful for us.

'Even at 1-0 we were just praying to get through the match. Late on, they kept pumping balls into the box but we coped with that well.

'They're a big side, very athletic, and we had to be on our toes in the second half. It's a good result for us, a very good result.

'We only scored once but we were away from home and you have to give Birmingham credit.

'Ronaldo's goal might have come from a mistake by one of their players but his composure in beating the mean, beating the goalkeeper and then putting it into the net was excellent. He was sensational today. The boy is so good it's frightening. His capabilities are unending.'

Yes, it was a good result. Yes, Ronaldo's capabilities are unending. But that's all the good we can say about this game. But I can't complain: fifth straight Premiership victory without conceding a goal. I'm still hoping for some good football.

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