Sir Alex Ferguson: 'David de Gea was at fault'

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that new Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was at fault for West Bromwich Albion's goal at the Hawthorns yesterday afternoon.

The 20-year-old Spaniard failed to collect a low shot from Baggies striker Shane Long, however United still went on to win the match 2-1 courtesy of a late Nicky Shorey own goal.

Manager Ferguson has backed the summer signing from Atletico Madrid to be a success in the Premier League but believes that he has a lot to learn.

"David should have done better there. I think he's lost a bit of concentration there, but welcome to English football because he took a battering in the second half," Ferguson told Sky Sports News.

"My recollection of goalkeepers coming from Europe is there's a learning process, it's a different game.

"Peter Schmeichel was the same when he came. [It was] Wimbledon in his first away game on a Wednesday night and they gave him a torrid time.

"But Peter came on to become the greatest goalkeeper of all time, possibly. The boy is 20 years of age, you suspect a learning process to be in operation at the moment and he'll see it through."

United reportedly paid Atletico £18m for the Spanish under 21 international.