Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that Manchester City's performance against Newcastle United last weekend was a wake-up call for his side.
City comfortably overcame a tough-looking away tie to the Magpies, running out 3-1 winners to reduce United's gap at the top of the Premier League table to six points.
Ferguson praised the performance of Roberto Mancini's men, but insists that his side will rise to the challenge.
"It was a wake-up call for us. City and ourselves will be battling it out and they played really well for the first 20 minutes," said Ferguson.
"But we expect a challenge. It is what we are good at. I look at December as an opportunity to gather points.
"If we are top of the league on New Year's Day we know fine well, and so does everyone else, that we are going to be in the ball park at the end of the season."
United will face Swansea in their next Premier League match, while City take on Reading.
