Keane refuses to point finger of blame

Manchester United captain Roy Keane has refused to single out a scapegoat for his side's shock Champions League qualifying defeat…

Manchester United captain Roy Keane has refused to single out a scapegoat for his side's shock Champions League qualifying defeat in Hungary last night.

The finger of blame for Bela Koplarovic's stunning late strike has been pointed at Phil Neville, who failed to cut out Balasz Molnar's floated free-kick.

The error allowed Tamas Szamos to charge down the left and provide the cross which Koplarovic bundled home from close range to give Zalaegerszegi the biggest win in their history.

But Keane, who in his controversial autobiography has accused some of his team-mates of losing their focus amid the mass of wealth they have accumulated over the past few years, insisted the entire squad bore collective responsibility for the defeat, which leaves United's Champions League hopes hanging by a thread before the competition has even begun.

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"It was a soft goal to give away," admitted the controversial Corkman. "We had possession just before the free-kick and then he just hit a long ball. It was a bad goal but we are all in this together and we must make sure we put it right in a couple of weeks."

Failure to qualify for the latter stages of the tournament would cost in excess of £12 million in prize money and having splashed out almost £80 million on Ferdinand, Van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron alone in the past 12 months, even the Old Trafford cash machine might struggle to absorb the shortfall.

United have a 100 per cent record from five home encounters with teams from the former Eastern Bloc nation and despite last night's setback will be heavy favourites to overturn the deficit and advance into the group stages of the competition.

However, both Ferguson and his captain are all to aware their failure to convert just one of their many chances at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium last night, leaves United walking a tightrope.

"I can't imagine us not qualifying and if we play well on the night I think we will win," said Keane.

"But it is going to be a hard game. They will come to Old Trafford confident they can get a result and if we give a goal away it will give us an even bigger mountain to climb.

"I don't believe we deserved to lose last night but sometimes you don't get the luck you think you deserve.

"We were a bit sluggish in the first half but the second was a lot better. At least we have a second chance."