Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has blamed a lack of support from fans for his team's difficulty in beating lowly Birmingham.

United laboured to a 1-0 win on New Year's Day, staying two points behind leader Arsenal but failing to improve its goal difference by much.

"The crowd was dead," Ferguson told the club's television channel MUTV.

"That was the quietest I've heard our crowd. We need the supporters to create a good atmosphere here because the players respond to that.

"At times it was like a funeral."

Carlos Tevez scored the only goal in the 25th minute and hit the post twice, while Cristiano Ronaldo had a shot cleared off the line.

That wasn't enough to rouse the crowd of 75,459 at Old Trafford.

"We need the fans to get behind us," Ferguson said.

"We were careless with some of our chances and we only really had brief moments in the game. It was a workmanlike performance which got us the win."

It isn't the first time the Old Trafford crowd has been criticised by those within the club.

Former captain Roy Keane once questioned whether some fans "can spell football never mind understand it," and said that many were more interested in eating prawn sandwiches than watching the game - particularly those who attended on corporate packages.

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