Ferguson left baffled by lack of cutting edge amid dominance

There are few things in life which have Sir Alex Ferguson flummoxed – and fewer still which he admits to – but the number of goals yielded by his team's periods of utter domination this season is one of them.

Though the fourth lowest scorers in the Premier League (with six goals in seven matches), United have, Ferguson served a reminder yesterday, played three teams this season who had not even won a corner kick. "Can you tell me another team in the world who have that kind of statistic?" he said. "Please tell me about it." But if there was a period in his 20-year reign at the club when such possession had elicited such little reward, then he was at a loss to recall it. "It's unusual to be in this situation," he said. "We do try and score. We do attack."

There are mitigating factors – the absence of Wayne Rooney through injury, Cristiano Ronaldo's suspension and Carlos Tevez's late arrival into the squad – and Tevez's first goal last weekend may, despite a performance which suggests he is not quite the finished article at Old Trafford, break the shackles. But in Birmingham City, who they face today, United will find a side capable of reaping the benefits of stopping teams from playing – as they did in a goalless draw at Anfield last Saturday. Ferguson does not expect Steve Bruce, the Birmingham manager, to employ the same tactics at home. "Playing at home there's got to be a different perspective, they'll have a go at us," he said. "But it will not be easy for us."

Owen Hargreaves may return from a thigh injury with a place on the bench, though seems more likely to feature against Roma in the Champions League next week, and he may establish a little of the rhythm United have been lacking. With Hargreaves in harness with Michael Carrick, whose distribution was supreme against Chelsea last week, United's front men should have even more of the opportunities which, their manager admits, they have been squandering.

He confirmed that the midweek defeat to Coventry in the Carling Cup means United will loan out a number of their young players. But Ferguson was adamant that Anderson, whose half-time substitution in midweek, suggests he is some way off the pace, should be excluded from censure over the Coventry defeat. "Anderson is coming on fine," he said. "That boy is a good player." Gary Neville is also on the way back, and expected to play in a practice match next week.