Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for Robin van Persie after their derby defeat to Manchester City.

After 10 games without a goal, he could do with Van Persie getting one, even if it was the Dutchman's brutal free-kick that created the panic that ended with Vincent Kompany's equalising own goal.

"Robin was absolutely fantastic," said Ferguson.

"We were a bit lucky with the goal because it was an own goal off Kompany. But it was a fantastic free-kick."