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By Mike Collett
LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said he was not too disappointed with their opening day draw against Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday because so many of his players were injured or absent.
Newcastle left Old Trafford with a 1-1 draw, but Ferguson said although that was not the result he would have wanted it was acceptable in the circumstances.
"It's not the result I would have wanted but in the context of the season I cannot be too disappointed," Ferguson said.
With Cristiano Ronaldo missing following ankle surgery, Owen Hargreaves out with a knee injury, Carlos Tevez missing because of a family bereavement in Argentina, Anderson at the Olympic Games and Nani suspended, United started with Fraizer Campbell in attack and had some unfamiliar youngsters on the bench.
During the match, Michael Carrick injured an ankle that will keep him out for three weeks and Ryan Giggs and Campbell also went off injured, meaning that Brazilian youngsters Rodrigo Possebon and Rafael Da Silva were called into action.
"Our attacking play was good in the first half but in the second half we struggled at times," Ferguson told Sky Sports.
"We lost the balance in the side when Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick went off injured and although we hit the bar and there were one or two scraps in the box, we were not too dangerous. I've not got too many complaints though, we did our best."
GOOD SIGNINGS
Kevin Keegan, who took over as Newcastle's manager three days after they lost 6-0 at Old Trafford in January, said his side played well and deserved their point.
"We deserved the point because our performance was good and our attitude was spot on. You can't carry anyone here because whatever side Man United put out they are a great side," he said.
"If you put on a performance with the right attitude though you might just get a result here and we did that today."
Keegan praised his new signings, Argentines Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez and Danny Guthrie and said he would like to sign three more players of their standard.
"Everyone knows we need two or three more good players," he said, "and I hope we can find some as good as them. They were outstanding today."
