IPSWICH Town's top striker Marcus Stewart today accused Manchester United of insulting his club. The Blues player of the year says he is angry that the Reds put out what was not far short of a reserve side to beat his team 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

By Dave Allard

IPSWICH Town's top striker Marcus Stewart today accused Manchester United of insulting his club.

The Blues player of the year says he is angry that the Reds put out what was not far short of a reserve side to beat his team 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

"We showed them far too much respect and I think that it was an insult to our club that they put out a team like that, resting so many players," fumed Stewart.

Sir Alex Ferguson made no fewer than nine changes from the side that beat Lille 1-0 the previous Tuesday in the Champions League at home.

Stars such as Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Wes Brown and Laurent Blanc were in the Old Trafford directors box ahead of tomorrow night's game in Spain with Deportivo la Coruna.

Juan Veron, the new £28 million midfield man, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, the almost as new £19 million striker, were on the substitutes bench.

"The fact they left out so many players really got up my nose. We should have gone out there and showed them what we were really made of, but sadly we couldn't do it," moaned Stewart, last season's 21 goal Town top marksman.

He went on: "We started brightly, but once again shot ourselves in the foot by conceding a bad goal. We're not scoring enough and conceding bad goals. It's a fatal combination."

With United leading 2-0, Stewart was denied making it 2-1 towards the end of the second period by a blinding save from Fabien Barthez. Ferguson's champions went on to complete the scoreline with two late strikes.

"It was really disappointing not to score with that second half header. A good cross came over from Jermaine Wright and I think I did everything I should have done. But Barthez brought off a great stop," recalled Stewart.

Town made two changes to their side on Saturday. Alun Armstrong returned up front after missing last Thursday night's 1-1 UEFA Cup first round home draw with Torpedo Moscow following concussion.

He took the place of the Spaniard Pablo Counago. Fabian Wilnis returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Jermaine Wright.

Wilnis played right wing-back on an afternoon when Town operated with John McGreal in the middle of a three man central defence.

There are no new injuries following the match and the Blues now look ahead to Thursday night's return with Torpedo in Moscow.

Next Sunday they have a live Sky Sports home Premiership match with Leeds United at Portman Road.