Fergie: Manchester United are halfway to winning the title

ALEX FERGUSON was all smiles this time — as he declared his Manchester United team are halfway to regaining the title.

The Old Trafford boss admitted he had been “demonstrative” on Boxing Day as he took referee Mike Dean to task over Newcastle’s controversial second goal.

But there was nothing to make the veteran Scot — who turns 71 on Monday — angry three days on as the leaders chalked up a comfortable win over West Brom.

It means United maintain their seven-point lead over rivals Manchester City going into the final game of their hectic festive period at Wigan on Tuesday.

And an added present for Fergie was a first clean sheet in over a month as skipper Nemanja Vidic gave a commanding display at the back.

The United boss said: “We’re in a good position. We’re halfway there. We’ve a game on Tuesday away at Wigan and we’ll look forward to it.

“I am more than happy with the players I have in my squad and it’s a group as good as any I’ve had in my time at Old Trafford.”

Ferguson was also full of praise for £22milion summer buy Robin van Persie who left the bench to score his 17th goal of the season and seal the points.

The Dutchman unveiled a vest saying ‘RIP Tchuna We will Never Forget You’ in tribute to a close pal who died last night.

Fergie added: “Robin changed the game for us. When I brought him and Paul Scholes on they settled the game down.

“He’s been fantastic. He’s a fantastic player. He came on and changed the game for us. Every time the ball went to him he kept hold of it and turned on it.”

Just as pleasing for Ferguson, though, was a shut-out at the other end — although stiffer tests lie ahead than a Baggies team who made seven changes.

The United boss said: “They all defended crosses very well.

“They kept pumping it then we decided to put in Smalling alongside Nemanja and Jonny Evans and bring Antonio back. We were competing with all the crosses and did very well.

“West Brom dominated in the second half and kept pumping the ball into our box. They did very well and we did that better than we have done all season.

“The pitch was a problem with the way we pass. It slowed our game down a bit. We did well in the first-half and dominated that.

“But credit to West Brom. They had more of the game in the second-half and were a threat with their crosses.”

As well as Vidic and RVP catching the eye, Shinji Kagawa — another summer arrival — also made a promising return after two months out with a knee injury.

Fergie added: “Shinji did very well in the first-half. We expected him to tire as it was his first game for several months. I’m very pleased with Shinji. He is a good footballer who worked really hard.”

Baggies boss Steve Clarke felt his team could have nicked an unlikely point as they put United under pressure in the second half.

They came close to a leveller when Gareth McAuley, who had put through his own net in the ninth minute, saw his header smash against the bar.

Clarke said: “There was a stage when we had a really good control. I thought the game was more likely to go 1-1 than 2-0.

“Some of the football we played was very good and I thought the goal would come.
“The fact they had to bring their big guns off the bench tells you how well we were doing and how worried they were.”