MANAGER'S VIEWS

Last updated : 30 October 2005 By Ed

Fergie:

"The players should be angry with themselves. It was a bad performance and it was compounded by the fact we lost with terrible goals.

"It was a shocking performance.

"It was a bad start and we never recovered. I'm also unimpressed by the fact we lost three terrible goals.

"At the start of a match you want to get tight in midfield but the lad (Mendieta) had a free shot from 25 yards. These things shouldn’t happen at our level

"He should have been closed down. It was a bad start and we never recovered. It is one of these quirks of football. It happens.

"Sometimes, if eight players play, you win. Certainly, if eight players play badly, you lose. It was a bad performance and it is compounded by the fact that we lost really terrible goals. And we cannot afford to do that with what we are trying to achieve.

"The beauty of football is that there is always a next match.

"But our opponents will be buoyed by this result and they'll take confidence from it

"Today was a must-win game. You get three points for beating Middlesbrough just like Chelsea.

"Their (Chelsea's) form has been outstanding and the rest of us are hoping they slip up."



McClaren:

"We had a drink after the game. He knows football and he knows there are ups and downs like this.

"He accepted the result like a true gent. You get times like these but he will move on and come back strong again.

"Nobody likes losing games but I thought our football was terrific and so was the way we controlled the game.

"We looked well balanced and that was Gaizka Mendieta back to his best. I'm delighted for him because he deserves it considering how hard he's worked to get back over the last 12 months."