MATCH WINNER: Wayne Rooney's (right) quick turn and shot proves to be the decisive moment in Manchester United's match against Roma. -- PHOTO: AP

The United manager admitted his side were 'a bit lucky'' to come away with a 1-0 victory in their Champions League Group F encounter.

The English champions are clear at the top of the table on six points. Roma are second on three points.

A Wayne Rooney strike in the 70th minute separated the two teams, but Roma were unfortunate not to score after coming close on several occasions.

Said Ferguson: 'We controlled most of the match. We tired a little bit towards the end, and maybe got a bit lucky. They were close several times, when they started to take risks going for an equaliser.''

Even Rooney, who scored his first goal of the season, acknowledged the visitors deserved at least a point.

He said: 'I think Roma played really well tonight. We knew it was going to be more difficult than last season.

'They played well and, honestly, the fair result was probably a draw. But we held on to the win.''

Last season, United thrashed Roma 7-1 in the quarter-final tie.

Ferguson's side now enjoy the prospect of qualifying for the knockout stages ahead of a potentially tricky trip to Rome.

He said: 'Ten points will take us through and we have got six.

'Winning the first two matches gives us confidence, and the controlling position in the group.

'Our next two games are against Kiev and, hopefully, we will add to those points.

'We did not want to go to Rome looking for points in our last game. That would be difficult but, hopefully, we won't have to worry about that.'

United finished the game with 10 men after Cristiano Ronaldo left the field with a head wound, which required four stitches. He claimed he was elbowed.

Said Ferguson: 'I didn't see it. It's unfortunate, because I think the game was played with a good spirit.''

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti was disappointed to leave empty handed. But he was happy that Roma restored their reputation following their thrashing in April.

He said: 'I think the team showed what happened in April was a blip. Tonight's performance showed there was a huge difference between what happened then, and what happened today.

'When a team puts in a display like that, it should not be a beaten side. If anyone deserved to score more goals, it was us, rather than Manchester United.'

Ferguson is well aware that his side need to find a cure for their lack of scoring punch.

While Rooney's blistering shot on the turn was a thing of beauty, Tuesday's win was United's sixth single-goal victory in eight matches this season.

'It's a disease,' joked Ferguson. 'I'm trying to get a vaccine for it.'

He then called on his players to stop being so averse to risk-taking.

'In the first half, we were too tactical and played with too much caution,' he said.

Rooney was playing off Louis Saha, who was making his eagerly anticipated return, after missing most of the year with a knee injury.

However, the French striker did little to establish himself as United's immediate goal-scoring solution. He was replaced by Carlos Tevez just before Rooney's decisive intervention.

Nani looked lively down the left flank, whipping in balls and coming close to scoring. But Ferguson said the 20-year-old Portuguese winger is far from the finished product.

'He has still got a long way to go,' the manager said. 'He needs to have the confidence to release the ability.'

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

ALEX Ferguson, on Man United's sixth single-goal victory in eight matches this season