Man U players feeling fans` pain after 6-1 thrashing by Man City

London: Star footballer Darren Fletcher has admitted that Manchester United’s humiliated players are feeling the torment of the club’s supporters in the aftermath of Sunday’s derby defeat against Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Manchester United suffered their heaviest home defeat in more than half a century as Roberto Mancini’s team moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with Manchester City`s biggest win on United territory since 1926. The sense of a power shift in Manchester has grown with Sunday’s remarkable result. And, with many of United’s players being based in and around the city, a daily quotes Fletcher as admitting that he and his team-mates will not spared from the goading that the supporters will face in the wake of the 6-1 defeat. “Without doubt, we realise how much stick and how much banter there will be for our fans. We know how much it is hurting because the players are hurting just as much. We have to live in the city as well so we are going to have to deal with it too,” said Fletcher. Fletcher, however, insists that United will not allow the size of Sunday’s defeat to paint a false impression of their title aspirations. “There is a long season to go. There are no medals handed out at this stage of the season and there are still 20-odd games left. It is a bad result losing to Manchester City, but this doesn’t mean the league is over. We have to respond and win our next game,” said Fletcher. “We are disappointed, really disappointed, but we will have to bounce back,” he added. United now travel to Aldershot for a Carling Cup tie against Dean Holdsworth’s League Two outfit with manager Sir Alex Ferguson expected to make wholesale changes to the team beaten by City. ANI