Just when you thought the week couldn't get any better…

FERGIE WON'T PANIC AFTER CUP SHOCK

Sir Alex Ferguson has pledged Manchester United's stunning Carling Cup exit at Southend will not trigger any knee-jerk reaction from inside the Red Devils camp.

Just 24 hours after he celebrated 20 years as United manager, Ferguson suffered one of the most embarrassing defeats of his entire time at the club.

The competition holders and Premiership leaders were unable to find any way back once lifelong Red Devils fan Freddy Eastwood had put the Championship basement boys in front with a magnificent first-half free-kick.

Shrimpers keeper Darryl Flahavan kept Southend's noses in front with a string of fine saves, including a hat-trick of stops to deny Cristiano Ronaldo, ensuring the Roots Hall faithful were able to celebrate a famous win.

"We need to look forward, not back," said Ferguson.

"It was a disappointing night but there is no need for a knee-jerk reaction, no mass sackings and no suicides.

"Maybe there will be a little bit of recrimination and maybe a few of my players will be embarrassed by the result but they have to pick themselves up, that is the name of the game at this football club."

"We've lost three matches all season and all by 1-0. Cup football can smack you in the face and I'm not impervious to that. We started off slack, which can sometimes happen in a cup tie. But Southend were fantastic and their goalkeeper was magnificent. At the end they closed it down and made it difficult for us.

"In a way, it is great for me because I know tomorrow we can pull our togs on and start working again. There is no harm in defeat providing it improves you and you can learn from it. I am sure we will get slaughtered for this defeat but there is no need for any knee-jerk reaction. Maybe a few of my players will be a little bit embarrassed because it is a disappointing result."