Football: `Solskjaer's goals were top quality and he's got the goal instinct'

Alex Ferguson stressed that his side's 4-0 victory yesterday was not a decisive result in the race for the Premiership crown.

"It's early season and the League has not really started yet but we are in a good position," the Manchester United manager said.

"Blackburn were our nearest challengers yesterday morning before Chelsea started playing, so it makes it an important result for us but not decisive."

Ferguson praised the way his side had coped with a switch in tactics that saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer playing alongside Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham for the first time since United's 6-1 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday at the start of November.

Ferguson had some encouraging words for Solskjaer who was starting his first game since he scored twice against the Owls. "His goals were top quality and he's got the goal instinct. He's just unfortunate that he got his injury and when he came back the team was playing exceptionally well."

Hodgson admitted Blackburn had been deservedly beaten, but was critical of the referee, Alan Wilkie. "We thought the sending-off was a remarkably harsh decision," the Blackburn manager said. "He [Sutton] committed two challenges in the game and we didn't think either of them were vicious."

But he went to add: "There's no doubt Manchester United were the best side."