Sir Alex Ferguson Promises Manchester United Will React Positively to Manchester City Drubbing

Manchester United was humiliated in its 6-1 home defeat to upstart neighbors Manchester City. The Daily Mirror reports that Sir Alex Ferguson promised his team will react positively to Sunday's drubbing.

"We will react, no question about that." He said. "It's a perfect result for us to react to because there is a lot of embarrassment in the dressing room and that will make an impact.

"We'll come back. By January we'll be okay. We usually get the show on the road in the second half of the season and that will have to be the case."

Manchester City's riches have propelled them to the top of the English Premier League standings. After nine games, the Citizens are five points clear of their more illustrious rivals.

Manchester United will have the chance to work its way through its current funk without playing any title rivals. It has a tricky test when it visits Everton on Saturday.

The Red Devils host high-flying Newcastle on Nov. 26. Between now and then they face EPL strugglers like Swansea and Sunderland and underwhelming European opposition.

Whether Saturday's result was an aberration or a sign of a larger power-shift will be answered by what happens next. An immediate recovery would see them keep that "favorites" tag heading into the back end of the season.

If they struggle through this run of games against lesser opposition, take Dennis Green's advice and crown Manchester City.