Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced that the end is in sight to Manchester United’s scoring problems.

1-0 to the Arsenal used to be a favourite phrase of patrons at Highbury, but in recent weeks supporters at Old Trafford – used to entertaining football and a glut of goals – have had to survive on similar fare.

United are in the unusual position of having kept clean sheets in their last five consecutive league games entering Saturday’s game with Wigan Athletic and have only conceded two goals in eight Premier League matches - both away from home.

But while the defensive solidity has become a matter of pride, it is in scoring goals that United have fallen short of their previous standards.

The team have scored only seven league goals so far compared to 17 at the same stage last season, and six matches have been 1-0 victories including both games in the Champions League.

Ferguson, though, is convinced that the floodgates will open. “What’s happening at the moment is unusual for us, every team is waiting for a deluge,” he said. “It will happen, we will score goals, unfortunately it has not come as quick as I would like but we are playing well enough, creating the chances and it will happen.

“It’s great, we get criticised for winning 1-0... if we win 5-1 people will say our defence is going to pieces. The team are coming together after a shaky start in terms of winning games.

"There is now genuine evidence of [Wayne] Rooney, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Carlos] Tevez starting to do well and Nani’s performance on Tuesday was very encouraging.

“Defensively, it’s the best record we have had in that [opening] period of games. The players know if we are defending well it gives us an absolutely marvellous chance of getting some silverware.

“It’s now a matter of certain pride to the defenders to maintain their record.”

Even though United have beaten Wigan in their last five meetings, Ferguson reckons they are looking good under Chris Hutchings and should have beaten Liverpool last weekend.

“When Paul Jewell resigned, Dave Whelan took about three seconds to install Chris Hutchings as his manager which was a fantastic bit of business,” he added.

“What he was doing was rewarding loyalty and saying ’we are a good, solid club and we don’t need to look elsewhere’ and Chris has done a good job.

“Against Liverpool they probably should have won the game with the chances they had. We expect a good game tomorrow as they have been revitalised by players coming back from injury and have a couple of additions to their squad.”