Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that his side deserved their 3-2 win over local rivals Manchester City this afternoon.

Robin van Persie scored a stoppage-time winner to give United all three points in the derby after City had come from 2-0 down to draw level.

Ferguson bemoaned Ashley Young's disallowed goal shortly before City scored their first, but the veteran manager believes that the final result was fair, as well as admitting that it was special to end City's long unbeaten record at home.

"Today was a special one simply because they haven't lost at home for two years. Both of us are contending at the top of the league. It was a fantastic game, you couldn't take you eyes off that," said Ferguson.

"I think we played very well. I thought we should have finished the game off. It's a funny game, football. It should have been 3-0, the goal was perfectly onside, then they go up and score.

"Football can kick you in the teeth that way. Then they scored the second goal and at that moment in time they deserved that. They came back, were fighting like hell, they gambled everything on the three strikers. But up to that point I thought we were far better than them."

The result moves United six points clear of the reigning champions at the top of the Premier League table.