UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson heard his horse Rock of Gibraltar had triumphed in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, only for his side to slip up.

"My day has been spoiled by my little football team," he said after their first home defeat in the Premiership for ten months.

"We made a couple of errors that cost us. But that kind of thing has been endemic all season.

"I thought we looked lethargic and lacked spark. However, there are no excuses. Sam has done a good job and they are a formidable side away from home."