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Sir Alex wins Fergie battle

Image: Gibson: Sealed the win

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed family bragging rights after Man Untd claimed a 2-0 win over son Darren's Peterborough.

Red Devils pushed all the way by battling Posh

Sir Alex Ferguson retained the family bragging rights as a goal either side of half-time gave Manchester United a narrow 2-0 win over son Darren's ambitious Peterborough side. With the world awaiting Cristiano Ronaldo's imminent return to Old Trafford the rest of United's squad made heavy work of seeing off their plucky opponents - who could have recorded an excellent win if it was not for the performance of Tomasz Kuszczak in goal. It was testament to Posh's composed play that there was little to choose between the sides in the opening 20 minutes, though the busy Carlos Tevez was outstanding and went close when he collected Fraizer Campbell's lay-off and drove narrowly wide from 25 yards. Aaron Mclean scored 33 goals last season as Posh won promotion from League Two but blotted his copybook in the 37th minute when he wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring. Left-back Shane Blackett nutmegged Rafael Da Silva - one of a pair of Brazilian twins making their first appearance in the red shirt - before bursting past Rio Ferdinand and firing in a low shot which Kuszczak could only palm back into danger. Mclean reacted quickest but screwed his shot horribly over with the goal gaping.

Farcical

It was a let-off for United and Posh were made to pay seconds later as the Premier League champions took the lead in farcical style. Tevez found reserve winger David Gray on the right and his cross was too deep for everyone but Peterborough full-back Russell Martin who, attempting an extremely composed piece of defending, chested the ball past goalkeeper Joe Lewis and into the bottom corner. Both sides made wholesale changes at the break and after a sparkling run from Peterborough sub George Boyd another replacement, Craig Mackail-Smith, arrowed a header over from close range. And the former Dagenham and Redbridge striker was denied an equaliser moments later in the 57th minute when Kuszczak pulled off a fantastic save to tip over his header from point-blank range. But it was left to United youngster Darron Gibson to apply the gloss to the win when he collected a 67th-minute pass from Lee Martin and crashed a 25-yard strike into the top corner.

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