"It was a gritty, difficult game," said Sir Alex , "The new pitch was a bit spongy, and the blustery wind made passing difficult for both teams."
He felt that United's midweek trip to France had not helped his sides preparations but had no complaints.
"We did not get back until the early hours of Thursday, trained yesterday - and it's a midday kick-off today, which always makes it more difficult," he said.
He was also full of praise for Van Nistelrooy, saying, "He is having a fantastic season for us and getting better all the time.
"He could have had a hat-trick - but he shot just past the post in each half.
"Great strikers know they're going to miss an odd one or two. But they persevere - and he takes more than his percentage.
"It was a scrappy goal, not a Manchester United goal. Roy (Keano) won a tackle; the ball bobbled around; Peter Schmeichel came out, and Ruud span and knocked it in. But I hope he gets another 10 of them this season."