• Premier League

Ferguson not concerned by Rooney goal drought

Wayne Rooney has not scored a league goal since August © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Rooney reveals managerial ambitions
  
• Match report: Manchester double act both earn Boxing Day victories
  
ESPNsoccernet home

Sir Alex Ferguson insisted he is not concerned by Wayne Rooney's continuing goal drought, after watching the Manchester United striker fail to break his nine-month scoring duck from open play against Sunderland.

Rooney has only scored twice for United all season, and his only league goal came from the spot in an August victory over West Ham. The England international's all-round game was good against Sunderland, and Ferguson believes the goals will come.

"Wayne had a couple of tries today,'' said the United manager. "He was very unlucky with the chip and there were a couple of shots saved by the goalkeeper. He is getting there. The important thing is he is playing well. That is refreshing.''

Rooney is making a positive contribution. It was his excellent chip that set Berbatov up for his fourth-minute opener, although, after blowing a succession of first-half chances, the Bulgarian required the assistance of a massive deflection off Anton Ferdinand to seal the points after the break.

"Dimitar could have scored four or five today,'' Ferguson said. "He had some terrific opportunities. I was disappointed with the score at half-time. We hit the bar and the post. Their keeper has made a couple of good saves and we played some really good football. It was exciting stuff but then we just seemed to go into third gear.''

Part of the reason for that was the knowledge United's opponents on Tuesday, Birmingham, had their feet up following the postponement of their game at Everton. Blues boss Alex McLeish took the opportunity to watch Ferguson's side in action, although he is set to be greeted with the presence of Nani at St Andrew's - the Portugal winger set to recover from the hip injury that kept him out of Sunday's encounter - and hopefully Darren Fletcher, who was also sidelined with a heavy cold.

"We have come into good form,'' said Ferguson. "In the last few weeks we have played some very good stuff. We are getting that consistency, particularly in our defending. We are looking solid at the back. These are good signs for us. It is an important time to get that.

"Birmingham will be fresh. Going down there is always a difficult place to go to. They have always had a strong home record and are difficult to beat on their own ground. We are aware of that. I will make a couple of changes to freshen that part up. Hopefully we will get the result we want.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.