Alex Ferguson relieved to have survived Tottenham test but claims Scholes should never have been sent off

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson felt his side had come through a tough examination at Tottenham tonight.

The Barclays Premier League champions recovered from a first-minute Jermain Defoe goal and the later sending off of Paul Scholes to win 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

Ryan Giggs equalised from a free-kick before Anderson put United ahead and Wayne Rooney made the points secure 12 minutes from time.

"It was always going to be hard game," Ferguson told ESPN. "Tottenham are in great form and they got off to a fantastic start in the first minutes of the game.

"It was a marvellous finish from Defoe but it was early in the game, still 90 minutes to play.

"We had to gather our game and show composure."

Ferguson admitted he only started to breathe easily after Rooney had struck.

"It was at a great time, it killed the game," he said. "We had been under the cosh because of the 10 men. The goal finished the game."

The Scot was far from happy with the sending of Scholes for two bookable offences.

He said: "It was terrible sending off, I think the referee got it wrong.

"I thought it was a bad sending off. I have looked at the video twice and I don't see any sending off. I think he has been sent off because his name is Paul Scholes."