Man Utd Manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side were 'second best' after the 3-1 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park.

Dimitar Berbatov put the Reds ahead before goals from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell won it for the Toffees.

“We were well beaten, simple as that,” Ferguson said.

“We started the game well enough, but their goal galvanised them and gave them the incentive.

“You don’t want to lose a goal so quickly after going in front, but the real effect showed in the second half when we were second best.

“I’m disappointed and the players are disappointed. They’re human beings, they play for Manchester United, and they don’t like losing, but they’ve lost today.

“This is a bad result, and at this time of the year we can’t afford results like that.

“We hope others drop points, and that’s the way it’s been going this season. Hopefully it turns out right again.”

With 11 league games of the season remaining, it now looks unlikely United will get to the 90-point mark that has tended to be required to clinch the championship in recent times.

Fergie said: "Saturday was a bad result for us and at this time of the year you can't afford results like that, but I don't think we will panic because it has been a funny season.

"Teams have been losing points that you don't expect so the very nature of the league suggests we still have a chance. But tomorrow is a massive game now."

Fergie was at a loss to understand why his side performed so poorly, failing to force Tim Howard into a significant save once Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had levelled just two minutes after Berbatov's opener.

Although United controlled the game for long spells, Everton were more incisive and it was no real surprise when Dan Gosling bundled David Moyes' team in front.

"We had some good chances early on and we could have been two or three up. The equaliser changed the game a little bit. But it was the second half that let us down.

"Our second-half performance was very poor and, when you are going for the championship, you expect Manchester United to respond to the importance of the game."