Javier Hernandez Praised By Fergie

Alex Ferguson has praised new signing Javier Hernandez as he scored with five minutes to go to give Manchester United a 1-0 win over Valencia.

The twenty two year old, who was brought to the club during the summer, was a late substitute found the back of the net with his left foot.

Moments before the goal he had already threatened to put Manchester United ahead when he struck the post.

Speaking to The Sun, Ferguson said: "When he takes a chance it is like shelling peas to him. It is so natural to him. He is a natural finisher.

"But he is young and needs to build on his strength, which he has been doing in the gym. I brought him on tonight because I thought his pace would cause them problems."

It had not been the exciting clash that everyone had expected from the two sides and it looked like it was heading for a fair 1-1 draw just minutes before the end of time.

The La Liga leaders had marginally been the better side and it was Soldado who had had the best chance of putting Valencia ahead in the first half.

But he failed to react quick enough when Van der Sar couldn't reach a cross from Dominguez and could only put the ball on the roof of the net.

Dimitar Berbatov struggled up front alone and had little to work with through the course of the match, however he did force a good save from Cesar.

Ferguson threw on Hernandez in the seventy seventh minute, and then Macheda eight minutes later, and it was to be these two players that made all the difference.

Macheda picked up a ball from Nani before threading it through to Hernandez in the box. Despite being surrounded United's latest signing kept his cool and found a way through to give the Reds the lead.

Valencia failed to respond in the five minutes they had left and the match finished 1-0.

Having only earnt a point in their opening clash with Rangers two weeks ago United need a win to get their Champions League campaign up and running.

They now sit top of Group C, on four points with Rangers; who saw off Bursaspor 1-0 at the Ibrox Stadium.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw