IT is inconceivable that Sir Alex Ferguson would concede the title to Arsenal after just five games, but there was worry on the face of the Manchester United manager as he weighed up the damage Wanderers inflicted on his Premiership prospects.

United have now drawn their last three games and, although fortunate to rescue a point at the Reebok -- the 92nd minute equaliser was credited as an own goal against the unfortunate Nicky Hunt -- Fergie is far from happy with the situation.

"Three points out of of nine isn't what I'm looking for," he said, "because the nature of this club is to win matches. I don't enjoy being behind like we are.

"We know it will get better, there's no doubt about that."

Ferguson was encouraged by United's first half performance, when they showed a fluency in their play that has been missing up to now this season, and delighted that, having gone behind in the last seconds of normal time, they refused to concede defeat -- a hallmark of their success down the years.

But he admitted early-season problems had forced him to rush players back from injury -- notably Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Wes Brown -- and hand Gabriel Heinze a debut just days after his belated arrival from a hectic international schedule with Argentina.

"It was tough," he said, "because I'm playing Gabriel, who doesn't speak any English and was having his first game in the team having been away for a long period playing in Copa America and then the Olympic Games.

"It was a big ask for him, coming into the tension of a Premier Division match. I thought he coped well.

"Then, of course, it was Wes Brown's first game of the season, so it was going to be difficult for us in certain periods of the game.

"But I thought they did fantastic for us because Bolton do give you a really hard time. They knock those high balls into your box, they are a big, big team and they put you under the cosh.

"One-nil up at half time we expected to show more authority but getting the goal just after half time gave Wanderers a big lift. For 15 minutes I thought Bolton did really well ... when we brought Ronaldo on we changed the pattern of the game. Then it was really ding-dong and I don't think either side deserved to lose or deserved to win."

United managed the double over Wanderers last season but Ferguson is a big admirer of Sam Allardyce's work at the Reebok and knows from the bitter experience of two Old Trafford defeats to expect a tough test when derbies come around.

"It was an exciting game," he said. "The atmosphere was frantic -- local derbies are like that and, of course, the history between Bolton and Manchester is a huge one and goes back many years. You expect it to be tough, and we got it tough."

Ferguson was not happy at the way his goalkeeper and defenders conceded the two goals, but his big beef was with the officials, claiming Kevin Nolan's equaliser had a suspicion of offside, and that Wanderers should not have been awarded the free kick that led to Les Ferdinand snatching the lead on 90 minutes.

"I wasn't happy with either of Bolton's goals," he said, "and I'll be making my feelings known to the match observer when he phones me during the week."