Ferdinand blow and De Gea howler but United still roll on with late win

Manchester United survived another day of calamity goalkeeping from David de Gea to begin their Barclays Premier League season with a win at West Bromwich.

On a day that saw United lose defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic to injury, 20-year-old Spaniard De Gea followed up his two howlers in last week's Community Shield with another shocker as he dived over a tame shot from West Brom striker Shane Long at The Hawthorns.

Young at heart: The United new boy's deflected strike secured the win

A late own goal allowed United to edge a crucial win but news that Ferdinand will be out for six weeks - missing England Euro 2012qualifiers against Wales and Bulgaria - and the fact that De Gea is proving so unreliable has given manager Sir Alex Ferguson food for thought.

Ferguson said: 'David should have done better. I think it was a lack of concentration. It was slack. But you saw the abuse he got in the second half. I couldn't believe he never got a free-kick. The aerial assault on him was ridiculous.

Dodgy keeper? De Gea made another howler on his Premier League debut 

'In the second half he was targeted a bit. Not necessarily physically but there were a lot of challenges that should have been free-kicks, but the referee (Mike Jones) decided to play on.

'It was the same when Peter Schmeichel came. His first few games against Leeds and Wimbledon, they punished him.

'They gave him a real torrid time and he went on to be the best goalkeeper of all time. 'David is young. He will learn. He will come through.

The lonely walk: Ferdinand has been ruled out for six weeks after limping off

'All I can do is pat him on the head and say, "Welcome to English football".'

United led through an early Wayne Rooney goal yesterday but were locked at 1-1 following De Gea's howler until an Ashley Young cross was deflected past Ben Foster by Steven Reid with nine minutes left.

The bad news for United is that Ferdinand and Vidic both picked up muscle injuries that will keep them out for six and two weeks respectively.

Trouble: Vidic was forced off with a calf injury and was replaced by Jonny Evans 

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Brazilian full back Rafael da Silva will miss 10 weeks after dislocating a shoulder in training on Friday.

Ferdinand will miss two England games, the start of United's Champions League campaign and league games against Tottenham and Arsenal at Old Trafford.

'Rio has a hamstring injury and he will be out for six weeks,' said Ferguson.

'Vidic we hope it's a nerve. It is his calf. He felt it prior to the game. He felt he wanted to play. We have lost Rafael to a dislocated shoulder, so we have lost three defenders in a matter of days.

'But Patrice Evra will be OK for the next game. We can always put Fabio at that side if we need to. We also have Chris Smalling, so we will get Ferdinand: six weeks out through.'