Manchester United maintained their pursuit of Arsenal at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 1-0 win over Birmingham City yesterday, but Sir Alex Ferguson began the new year with a rebuke for the club’s supporters. Echoing Roy Keane’s famous “prawn-sandwich” rant, the United manager likened the Old Trafford atmosphere to that at a funeral.

A first-half goal by Carlos Tévez — who celebrated by pulling a baby’s dummy from his shorts and putting it in his mouth, but who had to be carried to the dressing-room at the final whistle after suffering a blow to his ankle — kept United within two points of Arsenal, who beat West Ham United 2-0. Ferguson’s concern at Tévez’s injury was matched by his dissatisfaction with the crowd, whom he accused of failing to get behind the team.

“The atmosphere inside the ground wasn’t very good,” Ferguson said. “The crowd was dead. It’s the quietest I’ve heard them here. It was like a funeral, it was so quiet. We needed the crowd today. It’s all right saying the players will make the fans respond, but in some situations, like today, we need them to get behind us. We’ve played game after game in this period and in these moments we need a lift.”

Ferguson’s choice of words might be considered unfortunate on the day that English football paid its respect to Phil O’Donnell, who collapsed and died of heart failure while playing for Motherwell against Dundee United on Saturday. All six fixtures were preceded by a minute’s applause, with the players wearing black armbands. The effect of his death was such that James McFadden dedicated his goal in Everton’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough to his former Motherwell team-mate.

Ferguson’s comments came seven years after an outspoken interview in which Keane, the club’s former captain, questioned whether “some of the people who come to Old Trafford can spell football, never mind understand it”. Keane’s barbs were aimed at supporters in the corporate seats, whom he accused of going to the match to dine on prawn sandwiches rather than to support their team.

Ferguson was also unhappy with the challenge by Liam Ridgewell, the Birmingham captain, which led to Tévez’s injury. “Carlos got a bad tackle in the first half and, the longer the game went on, the worse it got, so we had to bring him off,” Ferguson said. “He’s doubtful for Saturday [the FA Cup third-round tie away to Aston Villa].” A scan last night, however, revealed no break.

Early goals from Eduardo da Silva and Emmanuel Adebayor earned Arsène Wenger’s side a straightforward victory over West Ham and Chelsea came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage. Liverpool, in fourth place, play Wigan Athletic at Anfield this evening.