DERBY - ALEX Ferguson said Manchester United were lucky to still be on course for five trophies this season after their shock 1-0 League Cup semi-final, first leg defeat against Derby County.

The Manchester United manager was punished by the side languishing 18th in the Championship for fielding a vastly-weakened side, with only Serbian Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes beginning the game decided by Kris Commons' wonderful 30th minute goal.

Ferguson clearly had one eye on Sunday's crucial Premier League meeting with rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford and that was part of his team thinking but even the 60th minute double substitution of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney could not prevent overwhelming favourites United from slipping to their fourth defeat of the season against the side that was relegated from the Premier League eight months ago with 11 points, the worst total ever recorded.

Such was the depressing nature of United's lethargic performance, Ferguson cannot wait for the return leg on Jan 20 and is delighted to still be in with a chance of claiming a place in the final on Sunday, March 1.

'Only losing 1-0 was a fantastic result for us. Considering the performance. We could have lost four goals. It's a fantastic result for us now and going to Old Trafford now it will be different,' said Ferguson.

'We just did not play well and over-worried about their crossing and set pieces and we were panicky at the back.' Despite the heavy workload ahead for his side, Ferguson insists he will not be recalling all his big-name players for the second leg and refused to criticise youngsters like Darron Gibson and Danny Wellbeck, who will be given another chance to make amends.

'I think we will persevere with the younger players. I thought they were our better performers. We were lucky only to lose 1-0 and in a semi-final you need that bit of luck.

'Gibson was one of our better performers and Wellbeck did not get the service in the game so it is unfair to judge him,' added Ferguson. -- AFP