IT might not have been what Sam Allardyce wanted to hear but Sir Alex Ferguson took his hat off to the Bolton boss, admitting United were fortunate to escape with a draw from Saturday's derby, acknowledging Wanderers as the better side and tipping them to beat the drop.

It was a well-deserved, sporting tribute from the Old Trafford manager but of little consolation to the Reebok boss after Wanderers had gone so close to clinching their first derby double over the Reds for 24 years.

But Fergie qualified his accolade by complaining that the 12 noon kick off had worked against his players, allowing them less time - three hours to be precise - to recover from the exertions of their midweek Champions League victory over Juventus.

"I think we were fortunate to get the point," Ferguson said after seeing Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's 90th minute equaliser cancel out the 61st minute goal Bruno N'Gotty bundled in.

"But, as we've done so many times in the past, we've dug something out of a situation when we've had no joy in the match.

"I think that was due to the performance by Bolton who were fresh, strong and well prepared.

"I can't understand why it was a 12 o'clock kick off. It really amazes me that the police can do that. We had a European tie on Wednesday and that's hard enough with a 3 o'clock kick off; 12 o'clock makes it harder work.

"Most importantly Bolton's preparation was terrific. They played really well and when you've got quality like Djorkaeff and Okocha and Campo's experience it's a lot of international experience to bring into a game like that. When a team's as fresh and strong as they were, they're a handful.

"You've got to own up and say that Bolton were the better team and played some excellent stuff. We could have lost by two or three but in the time-honoured fashion we've dug one out from an impossible situation - a well-made goal, a tremendous run by David Beckham and a terrific ball into the near post and Ole's done what he does best, scoring goals.

"I felt at that point that only one team was going to win the match and we had one or two scrambles but we just couldn't get the second.

"Give us credit for the fact that we did dig something out of the match after a not great performance against a lively and determined Bolton team.

"Looking at that performance I think they can definitely stay up."