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He saw his side miss a vital penalty right on half time when Brian Jensen saved from Michael Carrick and thought that might have made things a lot different. He said: "I think we'd have won the game. I think we'd have composed ourselves and taken our time in the second half.
"Hopefully we'll get as many chances on Saturday. Michael Carrick had what I thought was the best chance when the ball was squared to him in the box but he decided to take a touch on the ball and lost the opportunity. Michael Owen missed a great chance in the first half, Ryan Giggs had one in the second half and Wayne Rooney had a couple of chances."
But Ferguson heaped praise on us, saying: "You can't deny them victory. Every member of their team worked their socks off and the fans were fantastic. They got behind them all night, cheering every kick of the ball. To play Manchester United on their return to the top division after a long time, it was a great occasion for them.
"Burnley had a good ten minute spell which won it for them. They caused us a lot of problems with their balls in behind our back four, turning us towards our own goal. The goal was a very good strike, a marvellous hit, but we didn't defend it well. The player should have been covered but one or two of our midfield players were running out when the ball was played across."
A delighted Owen Coyle said: "First and foremost we are absolutely thrilled to get the three points. It's a timely and terrific boost because anyone outside this town would have looked at the first five fixtures and think we would be sat here with zero points.
"I have talked about the belief and the confidence, and it's nice to disprove a few people who thought we would be bottom with no points. What we have to do now is disprove a few more who have written us off over the course of the season.
"I don't have a problem with that because financially, Burnley in the Premier League is a total mismatch. But what we do have is quality and an unbelievable work ethic and we are going to need that every game.
"I can't tell you how disappointed I was with the goals we conceded on Saturday, but we have rectified that tonight. We had to be brave because we were playing against a side that move the ball so well and we had to ride our luck at times. But we had chances and I am delighted to get those three points on the board."
Coyle continued: "I was in good form before the game and I felt that if we played to our maximum and had a little luck that we could get a positive result. Then the television flashed up that in their last 17 games against newly promoted clubs they won 17, drawn nil and lost nil. Goals for 44, goals against 7.
"I wished I'd had the TV off at that point, so I tried to hide that from the players and keep them in a positive frame of mine and they have done all we asked of them. I actually thought United had a stronger team tonight than they had on Sunday, so we were a bit worried about that.
"We got the goal and Brian made a great save from the penalty, but we know the quality he has and there's no doubt they are going to get chances, whoever they play against. But collectively we were magnificent and if we can replicate that it will serve us well for the rest of the season.
"We are already three points better off than this time last year in the Championship, so that's pleasing. We will enjoy the night because it's not often that teams will be the champions."
Owen had a final word for the fans. "At times, Turf Moor gets a bad rap," he said. "People want to call it ramshackle and this and that, but for me, I am from the old school and this is our Turf.
"When the fans are at capacity and on song, as they were tonight when the whole place is rocking, they are unbeatable."
