WE LOOK LIKE CHAMPS SAYS SIR ALEX FERGUSON

SIR ALEX FERGUSON reckons Manchester United have the look of champions after watching them win a seven-goal thriller at Old Trafford.

United came from behind three times to beat Newcastle 4-3 and storm into a seven point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Javier Hernandez struck in stoppage time as closest rivals Manchester City fell to a shock defeat at Sunderland.

Ferguson said: “The statement was the performance, never mind where we are at this moment in time. That was a championship performance.”

The Magpies found themselves ahead at various stages thanks to strikes from James Perch, Papiss Cisse and a controversial Jonny Evans own goal.

But United showed stunning powers of recovery to hit back through Evans, Patrice Evra and Robin van Persie before Hernandez completed the astonishing win.
Fergie praised United’s courage and hailed his side as champions in waiting after watching them come from behind to win for the eighth time this season in the league.

The relieved United boss said: “It’s a great quality to have and once again they have proved their courage. They never gave in.

“Losing the third goal was a kick in the teeth, but they never gave in and that’s the quality. They kept making chances. If you keep making them, you are bound to score some of them and eventually we did get that.”

Fergie, who revealed Wayne Rooney has damaged knee ligaments and could be out for up to three weeks, could be in hot water with the FA after storming on to the pitch before the start of the second half to confront referee Mike Dean for allowing Evans’ own-goal to stand.

But the Scot preferred to focus on his side’s fighting spirit and added: “I wish it was the last game of the season! But it tells you about the courage of our team, fantastic courage.

“It puts us in a good position, but we always say December is a month that tells you everything.

"We come to New Year’s Day at Wigan still top of the league.”

The Magpies have lost seven of their last nine league outings, but Toon boss Alan Pardew said: “We came here with a game plan – to take the game to United and put pressure on them.

“We did that, so to come away with nothing is disappointing. We felt we had goals in us throughout the game, but we have got to defend better than that. My expectations of the back four were greater than that.”

Pardew said he could be without Vurnon Anita for several weeks with damaged ankle ligaments following a tackle from Antonio Valencia in the final minutes that went unpunished.