Ferguson has faith in Foster

The 26-year-old endured a difficult afternoon at Wembley on Sunday, where Chelsea won the FA Community Shield on penalties following an action-packed curtain raiser to the new campaign.

"The important thing is, knowing his ability, it means I do not have any worries about him," said the United boss, who was also less than impressed by the performance of referee Chris Foy.

"Knowing Ben and the ability which he has, he should have done better with the second goal.

"However, it was his first big challenge. He has waited a long time, has had his injuries and in pre-season I spread the load between the three keepers, and maybe we did not have enough minutes for him."

Ferguson was in no doubt the decisive moment of the 2-2 draw came in the build up to Chelsea's second goal on 70 minutes.

Substitute Michael Ballack appeared to elbow Patrice Evra as the full-back charged down the left flank, but with the United player down, Foy allowed play to continue as Chelsea broke quickly, with Frank Lampard's shot beating Foster inside the far post.

Although the Barclays Premier League champions - who took the lead through Nani, later to go off with an injured shoulder - forced a penalty shoot-out when Wayne Rooney slotted home in stoppage time, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech was the hero with two saves.

Ferguson, however, believes Foy should have intervened when Evra was left flat out on the Wembley turf. "With a replay you can see Ballack has elbowed the boy, and if the referee had seen it properly, it is a red card," he said.

"The referee is in line with it, and should have at least stopped the game, but he did not. Of course, then they went on and scored the second goal."