Steve Bruce, the Wigan Athletic manager, has warned his Premier League counterparts that no-one wins a psychological battle with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Last week, Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, alleged that Ferguson does not get punished sufficiently for his outspoken criticism of match officials and also claimed that David Gill, Manchester United's chief executive, held too much sway at the FA. United responded by beating Chelsea 3-0, less than 24 hours after league leaders Liverpool had stuttered to a goalless draw at Stoke.

"It is fantastic radio and television. I found it humorous like everyone else," Bruce said. "There is always a little bit of banter going about and the mind games have started.

"How do you take him on? You don't. I think that is the motto. He is fantastic at what he does and there will never be another. I can't pay him compliments high enough.

"How he has managed at that level for so long and what he has done is quite remarkable. He still has the hunger for the fight and that is there for everyone to see. You are born with that.

"A lot of people have tried to take him on but what people forget is he always has a very good team up his sleeve to back him up. The results tell you that. He is convinced he has got the best set of players."