Moyes is cautious as title race tightens

Manchester United manager David Moyes warned his side still has progress to make after it breathed life into its Premier League title defense by defeating leader Arsenal.

Moyes has seen his team beaten by Liverpool, Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion since the start of the season, but Sunday's 1-0 win at Old Trafford took United to within five points of top spot.

Defeats for City and Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, coupled with Chelsea's draw against West Brom, have helped United place itself squarely among the title contenders, but Moyes says there remains work to be done.

"I think it's another step in the right direction for us," he said.

"But we've got a lot of big steps to take here. It's going to take a while for me to get it all the way I'd like it to be.

"We know we'll get a few bloody noses along the way. I think the Premier League has shown that it's not just Manchester United who are getting a few of them."

Going into the international break, just six points separate Arsenal and eighth-placed City, and Moyes says the campaign is living up to expectations following a close season of widespread upheaval.

"At the start of the season, we all said (this would happen) because of the changes in managers' jobs," he said.

"More likely, the reason Arsenal have started the season so well is because they've had continuity. They've had a manager who's been there for a lengthy period."

The only troubling aspect of the game for United involved captain Nemanja Vidic, who had to go off at halftime after having his head jerked back in an awkward mid-air collision with goalkeeper David de Gea.

He was taken to hospital after the game, but Moyes played down the extent of his injury.

(China Daily 11/12/2013 page24)