Manchester United legend Gary Neville says losing the title on goal difference to Manchester City is Sir Alex Ferguson's "worst nightmare". Monday night's 1-0 defeat at the Etihad, courtesy of Vincent Kompany's header, left the Red Devils second behind City, level on points but eight goals back from their rivals.

Neville told Sky Sports: "I know - I've been in that changing room for 20 years - it's his worst nightmare.

"Losing a championship on goal difference is what he always talks about, every single season.

"In January, in February, in March, whatever month it is going for a championship, he will say if you're 1-0, 2-0 up, 'score three, score four'.

"You never know whether it's going to get to goal difference.

"And you look at games like Fulham at home 1-0, QPR at home 2-0, and it's these sort of things you look back at during a season an think, 'we could we have done more'.

"It is his worst nightmare."