Sir Alex Ferguson has given Bradford City a vote of confidence despite their 6-0 beating at Old Trafford last night.

The Manchester United manager said: "I think the scoreline was a bit unfair because I thought they got forward well.

"It was difficult for them with us playing so well and scoring goals of that quality, but it was an honest performance on their part.

"They are a better team than last season and I think they have a genuine chance of staying up. What they showed against us was their work ethic. Benito Carbone worked hard and joined in that work ethic.

"On what I saw in this match I think they have a good chance of staying up. They had some good moments in the first half and that was a good move in the second half when Dean Windass hit the post. It shows there is something there.

"Sometimes teams come to Old Trafford with spirit and you say 'I wouldn't count them as a team to go down'. Wimbledon have shown that spirit in the past and there will be a good atmosphere on Bradford's ground for their home matches. They have beaten Chelsea there and they can shake a few other sides as well."

While Ferguson's praise is welcome, the immediate concern for City manager Chris Hutchings is to get his team prepared for another tough task as they continue their difficult start to the season with a home match against Arsenal on Saturday.

Hutchings, who was critical of City's performance, said: "I have got some disappointed players in the dressing room.

"We have got to look at ourselves as a team and individually and improve on what we did against Manchester United. I think we have got the quality to do that."

Hutchings hopes midfield player Dan Petrescu will have recovered in time to be included in the squad for the Arsenal game.

Petrescu suffered a slight hamstring injury while he was playing for Romania against Lithuania on Sunday and was not included in last night's team.

Hutchings said: "It is just a niggle at the top of the hamstring.

"It is not 100 per cent and we decided not to risk him. Hopefully it should clear up in a couple of days."