Sir Alex Ferguson was left frustrated by Manchester United's failure to defeat Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford earlier today.

Ferguson's side trailed Rovers 2-0, before two strikes from Dimitar Berbatov hauled the Red Devils level.

However, visiting defender Grant Hanley headed a late winner to lift Rovers closer to safety.

"We didn't expect that," Ferguson told ESPN. "It was a bad one to lose. It was great to come back to 2-2 and I thought we'd go on and win as we had the momentum but the third goal was a killer.

"We're missing the craft of Michael Carrick in midfield and the experience of Ryan Giggs."

United will head into 2012 second in the Premier League table.