David Moyes: Man Utd boss not blaming Sir Alex Ferguson exit

Manchester United boss David Moyes has rejected claims that the Premier League champions have lost their fear factor since he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson.

United are eight points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal after being held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

"Sir Alex Ferguson has a great history and his experience will always work in charge of any team," said Moyes.

"But the fear comes from the team on the pitch."

United have only one victory from four league games at Old Trafford since Ferguson's departure, but Moyes insisted: "The players have always been the people that have to turn out and do it."

Ferguson watched from the stands in his new role as a club director, but United could not build on their win at Sunderland last time out.

Moyes had looked on course to record back-to-back league victories for the first time as United boss, only for Adam Lallana's late goal to cancel out a first-half strike by Robin van Persie.

"I am disappointed because we wanted to get a bit of momentum going today and we weren't able to do that," said Moyes.

"We had the opportunities to get the game finished off. I am disappointed to lose a goal so late on.

"While it was 1-0, there was always the chance that Southampton might get something. I thought we had just about seen it out, then they got the corner late on.

"We didn't do well enough [from the corner]. We work on it and make sure we do it. We have got to do better in the final bit as well, the set piece, defend it and be harder to score against than we were."

Southampton dominated possession for the opening 20 minutes and for extended periods as the game wore on, but United always carried the greater cutting edge.

"We should probably have put the game to bed earlier on, we had a couple of chances, hit the bar and had a couple of other opportunities," added Moyes.

"We had some pockets of play when we were very good and there were times when we were not as good. It was a mixed game at times, but we still had those chances that I was hoping we would finish off."

-BBC