Sir Alex: Step it up

Sir Alex Ferguson expects United’s form to really pick up – starting with the target of three points against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

United’s performances have steadily improved since the start of the season – or more crucially since the desperately disappointing 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

However, promising draws against Villarreal and Chelsea were followed up by a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup. The recent performances have certainly buoyed the Reds boss.

“The form of the team has started to come good,” he said on Friday. “We expected that. I said last week that, by October, I think we will be back to normal.

"There have been a lot of encouraging signs in the last two games. Some of the football on Tuesday was excellent, as was the performance in the first half against Chelsea.

“In the second half the players who needed a game showed that. Gary Neville, Owen Hargreaves, Ji-sung Park and Dimitar Berbatov showed that they really only had one game behind them going into such an important match. But it was a satisfactory performance at Stamford Bridge.”

Fitness – or, more importantly, match-fitness – is he key to even the slightest changes in United’s form. “The form comes naturally as you gain sharpness and fitness,” added Sir Alex. “Match fitness is really important. You can train as much as you like, but playing in matches gives you edge, timing and better breathing.”

In midweek there were goals, too. Sir Alex will be keen for that to translate to the league, where the Reds have found the net just three times in four games – although that figure is certainly skewed by the fact that two of those matches involved away ties against top teams.

“The win on Tuesday sends us on our way in that respect,” the United boss opined. “It’s been a tough start. We had three away games in a row in the league. Comparing it to last season, we actually have more points after four games (five, compared to four last season).

"We drew with Portsmouth last season but won this time. We won at Liverpool last year, but lost this time, and we got beat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but got a draw this time. It’s balanced itself out.

“Our start has not been emphatic, but it’s not decisive. I think we can expect better now, and I would hope for three points against Bolton.”