QUOTES

Last updated : 27 October 2002 By Editor

Fergie: “We were shoddy and outbattled in the first half, and Villa deserved to be in front. But at least we pulled level. We have players to come back and we'll get better.

“But sometimes it's important to take something from a game when you aren't doing well."

Diego: "I didn't know what to do really because I wasn't sure the ball had gone in. Once I realised it had, I just set off running because I was so happy," said the South American.

"It's gone on so long and it does bother you when you aren't scoring but I have tried not to feel the pressure.

"If I can't score then I just try and help the team but this is what I have been waiting for since I came to United.

"It's just a pity it wasn't the winner and although it was an important goal because we got a point we all consider this to be two points lost." While lamenting a lame performance from his side, Sir Alex Ferguson was happy to rejoice in Forlan's joy and praise the youngster for toughing out a striker's worst nightmare.

Fergie again: "Lesser strikers would have crumbled - it's happened here in the past, but Diego has shown real guts and courage to keep going.

"I'm really delighted for him and so are the rest of the lads. He's shown great perseverance and had four attempts at goal today so he fully deserved the goal he got."

Graham Taylor: “I wouldn't say we did enough to get three points but we definitely deserved one."

"At the end, it was players forward, ball forward - Manchester United are not supposed to play like that.

"You have crosses coming in from all angles and Gary Neville launching his throw-ins onto the penalty spot, so something is always likely to break."