Robin van Persie had the final say to send Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League following a seven-goal thriller at Reading that United won 4-3 on Saturday.
Alex Ferguson’s side regained top spot from neighbours Manchester City, moving three points clear in the process, but, once again, they had to do it the hard way.
The Red Devils have now come from behind to win seven times this season. They completed the task here in dramatic fashion after squeezing home following seven first-half goals.
The visitors fell behind to Hal Robson-Kanu’s opener before Anderson and Wayne Rooney’s penalty looked to have put them in control. But two headers from Adam Le Fondre and Sean Morrison, both from identical corners, would have left Ferguson at his wits’ end.
United responded through Rooney before van Persie wrapped up the win, but they will know they cannot afford to keep being so charitable if they want to regain the title. The Madjeski offered yet another thriller, the last being 7-5 in the League Cup against Arsenal.
United defending is agony for Ferguson
Alex Ferguson described watching his Manchester United side’s defending in the topsy-turvy 4-3 victory over Reading on Saturday as agony.
United conceded three times in the opening 23 minutes of a rollercoaster first half at the Madejski Stadium but scored four times themselves before the interval.
‘It was agony, the worst defending of this season, and we needed to do something about it,’ Ferguson, who hauled off defender Rafael in a first half that often resembled a playground kickaround, told ESPN.
‘I thought it was going to be a record score in the Premier League at halftime. It was unbelievable. We’re needing to rescue the situation all the time. Fortunately we have players who can do that.
‘We saw it through and had two really good opportunities from Robin ( van Persie) to finish it off but I was just glad to get over the line,’ said he.
Alex Ferguson’s side regained top spot from neighbours Manchester City, moving three points clear in the process, but, once again, they had to do it the hard way.
The Red Devils have now come from behind to win seven times this season. They completed the task here in dramatic fashion after squeezing home following seven first-half goals.
The visitors fell behind to Hal Robson-Kanu’s opener before Anderson and Wayne Rooney’s penalty looked to have put them in control. But two headers from Adam Le Fondre and Sean Morrison, both from identical corners, would have left Ferguson at his wits’ end.
United responded through Rooney before van Persie wrapped up the win, but they will know they cannot afford to keep being so charitable if they want to regain the title. The Madjeski offered yet another thriller, the last being 7-5 in the League Cup against Arsenal.
United defending is agony for Ferguson
Alex Ferguson described watching his Manchester United side’s defending in the topsy-turvy 4-3 victory over Reading on Saturday as agony.
United conceded three times in the opening 23 minutes of a rollercoaster first half at the Madejski Stadium but scored four times themselves before the interval.
‘It was agony, the worst defending of this season, and we needed to do something about it,’ Ferguson, who hauled off defender Rafael in a first half that often resembled a playground kickaround, told ESPN.
‘I thought it was going to be a record score in the Premier League at halftime. It was unbelievable. We’re needing to rescue the situation all the time. Fortunately we have players who can do that.
‘We saw it through and had two really good opportunities from Robin ( van Persie) to finish it off but I was just glad to get over the line,’ said he.