Darren Fletcher was delighted to help United to victory with a goal against Queens Park Rangers, but says it’s important the Reds improve and go on a winning run.

Fletcher, in his first Barclays Premier League start in more than a year, headed Sir Alex’s men into the lead after Jonny Evans had cancelled out QPR’s shock opener.

But it was that concession at the start of the second period that annoyed Fletcher, who admits the United players are rankled by the growing number of times opposition teams score first.

“We're very frustrated,” he told MUTV. “It shouldn't take going a goal behind for us to start playing.

“The only positive thing we can take from it is that every time we do it we seem to respond. But we can't keep making a habit of it.”

Indeed, United have conceded first in 13 of 20 fixtures this season, including the last five.

“We want to go on a run of winning games now and not keep conceding first,” Fletcher said. “After the defeat at Norwich and at Galatasaray it was important we got a win today.

“Hopefully now we can kick on and see an improvement in our performances.”

Fletcher’s goal, a bullet header direct from a corner, was his first since November 2011. But the midfielder claims he thought nothing of personal glory when the ball nestled in the back of the net.

“The biggest thing it meant was that it put us in the lead,” he said. “It didn't mean anything personal to me – it got us back in the game.

“It's great to be back and to score goals but it has to be in winning teams. That's what made today special. It wasn't great to go a goal down in my first league game back. I was thinking: 'Here we go'.

“But the lads always respond and the most pleasing thing for me about my goal was that it put us 2-1 up.

“You have to give credit to QPR. They made it very difficult. Their strikers dropped onto me and Paul Scholes and then we had two banks of four to break down in front of us.

“At times we could have played a bit quicker and took a few more risks with our passes. There's a risk that you'll give it away but you have to do that if you want to break through. They were very resillient but we really lifted the pace of the game once we went a goal down.

“It was an important win, especially with Manchester City and Chelsea playing tomorrow.”

Sir Alex Ferguson enthused about Anderson's performance after the Brazilian came off the bench to help spark another comeback in the Barclays Premier League.

The South American added energy to the midfield as the Reds roared back from conceding first to QPR to clinch a 3-1 win to go back on top of the table.

"I thought Anderson changed the game," the boss told MUTV. "We played for about 10 or 15 minutes, that was the sum total of a real performance for Manchester United. Queens Park Rangers had a surge of determination and belief, they worked really hard and that's what you expect when a team loses its manager. We saw that again today.

"Of course it is frustrating [to keep conceding first] and you have to be concerned about it. The one thing about it is their goal sparked us off. From that moment on, we really got at them and played with great determination and speed and it made a difference."

Sir Alex has plenty of players at his disposal and Anderson was one who promoted his claims and showed he wants to force his way into the starting line-up.

"They all want to play," he insisted. "We've got a great squad of players. Anderson played his part today. He didn't let us down, he was terrific.

"Jonny Evans is capable of doing that but it's only this season that he's emerged as a goalscoring centre-back. We've had a few in the past - Vida [Nemanja Vidic] and Steve Bruce way back. It's nice to get a defender who can weigh in with a few goals.

"I think everyone is delighted with Darren. It's been a long road back for him and it's the first time I've used him twice in a week. He didn't let us down again. He never does and lovely to have him back. Obviously, we'll review the situation on Wednesday [against West Ham] but he made a great contribution today.

"Ando laid the third goal on a plate for Chicharito but it was a great first touch and a great finish. In that period, we really looked fantastic but, once we went 3-1 up, we just idled and saw the game out. We had opportunities to get four or five but there were one or two careless passes at the end of the moves which would have made it a far better day."

Antonio Valencia missed the victory against Queens Park Rangers due to a hip problem.

The Ecuador winger could also be forced to sit out the visit of another London side, Sam Allardyce's West Ham, on Wednesday night in the Reds' next Barclays Premier League assignment.

"He had a hip injury," the boss revealed to MUTV. "Just towards his back.

"He's had a bit of pain there for the last couple of weeks but he's been playing with it. That's the type of guy he is. He never mentioned it and plays on.

"All of a sudden, you ask him and he says: 'Yes, it's sore.'

"It won't be too long and he should be ready for maybe next week."

Paul Scholes will sit out Manchester United’s game against West Ham on Wednesday after collecting his fifth booking of the season on Saturday.

Referee Lee Probert showed Scholes a yellow card for a late challenge on Queens Park Rangers midfielder Kieron Dyer early in the second half.

It followed earlier bookings this term in matches against Stoke City, Newcastle United, Liverpool and Everton. Now, in line with the Premier League’s disciplinary process, the 38-year-old must serve an immediate automatic one-game suspension.

Should any other United player pick up five bookings before 31 December, they will face the same fate.

It was the 95th yellow card Scholes has been shown in his Premier League career; only Kevin Davies and Lee Bowyer have collected more.

As well as having to do without Scholes against West Ham on Wednesday night, Sir Alex is also unlikely to be able to field Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian winger is currently sidelined with a hip injury.