Michael Owen has revealed that the intensity of the Manchester derby got to him while he prepared to come into the game.

Owen then held his nerve as he sprinted into the box to place his shot past Shay Given to score in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Manchester United won 4-3.

"It was brilliant," he said. "I don't know how the manager and staff do it. It must be so nerve-wracking.

"When I start a game I never get nervous. I always feel in control.

"But when you are sat on the bench the game rubs off on you.

"When you do go onto the pitch you are a little bit nervous because you have felt all the emotions of everyone sat around you. You kick every ball with the team.

"The first couple of minutes are quite hard. It is not like just going down to the park for a kickaround.

"At this level you have to be right into the game, at the right speed despite sitting on your backside for the previous hour, or however long it is.

"But you get sent on to get a goal. Thankfully that is what I did."

The 29-year-old has only been in the starting XI once this season, in the defeat at Burnley. The striker has only scored twice in limited time on the pitch.

Owen should get another chance at starting in midweek, as Man United host Wolverhamption Wanderers in the Carling Cup at Old Trafford.

"Some games you get four chances and don't score, then you get criticised, other times you get one chance and you score," he said.

"That is the hard bit as a striker. You have to ride all the emotions and waves. You get criticised when you miss a few. You take the adulation when you score."

Sir Alex Ferguson may be satisfied with Owen's goal, Darren Fletcher's brace and Ryan Gigg's assists, the Red Devils' boss still has some things to work out.

Rio Ferdinand's error in City's third goal would have left Ferguson red-faced, given the England stopper's role with the club.

And Ben Foster must be worried about being replaced in the starting XI.

The England hopeful made an inexcusable blunder to enable Carlos Tevez to gain possession with Foster outside his six-yard area, which led to the Argentine striker squaring the ball to Gareth Barry to slot the ball home.

Foster also committed too early for Bellamy's second goal, inviting the fiery Welshman to tap in from close range.

Although Ferguson has previously endorsed Foster for the England starting berth at the World Cup in South Africa, his performance in the derby, coupled with a possible Tomasz Kusczak appearance in midweek, could find the keeper frozen out of the United first team until Edwin van der Sar is fit enough to take his place between the sticks.