Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken to Neil Warnock in an attempt to smooth out the tension which surfaced over the Manchester United manager's controversial team selection on Sunday.

Despite stating earlier in the week he would play a full-strength side, Ferguson left Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench against West Ham at Old Trafford.

The Hammers took maximum advantage with Carlos Tevez scoring the winner which kept the Londoners in the Premiership and sent Sheffield United down.

Warnock, who was this morning set to confirm his resignation from the South Yorkshire club, immediately launched a bitter blast at Ferguson.

However, the Scot is happy to report the pair are still on speaking terms.

"I have spoken to Neil and he said his words were overplayed," said Ferguson.

"He was hoping I would play my strongest team but that was impossible.

"I don't think anyone could criticise us on Sunday. We did our best and we should have won."

Ferguson admitted after the game that while he was delighted for old pal Alan Curbishley, he was less pleased the Hammers escaped given the furore which erupted over their punishment for breaking Premier League rules over the signings of Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

However, looking back, the United boss believes the Upton Park club were always destined to survive.

"West Ham rode their luck," he said.

"You look back to the game against Blackburn (when their winner did not cross the line) and then they won seven games out of nine. A relegated club has never produced form like that.

"They carried the luck into Sunday, so in the end it was always going to be the Wigan-Sheffield United game that decided it."