Alex Ferguson looked momentarily baffled. In the mixed zone after Manchester United's Tuesday stroll in Bursaspor, he was asked whether it was a good sign that his team have had so many different scorers this season. Seven different players, after all, had contributed their last seven goals.

"It's not a bad sign," he eventually spluttered. Talk about an understatement. So far, it's effectively saved United's campaign. Last season, it barely needs repeating, Wayne Rooney hit almost a third of their league goals. So concentrated was the team's scoring that, even though they managed a ratio of 2.2 goals a game, the average per scorer was five a man. And that was despite the fact most of United's 17 goal-getters – other than OG – only had one alongside their name. It stood to reason that if Rooney's form went the way of his World Cup, then United would be in trouble. And yet they've maintained the exact same rate of goals per game – 2.2 – and are in pretty much the same position.

Before yesterday's game against Wolves, United had nine different scorers in the league at an average of two goals apiece. Essentially, the entire team has stepped up rather than just a single striker.

For a time, it seemed that Rooney's absence would be inconsequential because of the resurgence of Dmitar Berbatov. Perhaps predictably, however, the Bulgarian's scoring has deteriorated from over a goal a game to one every two. The hero-making hat-trick against Liverpool was followed by an all-too typical drought. Berbatov's renewed confidence and influence in that time shouldn't be discounted though – even if his finishing can – since his subtlety opens space for so many other players. Among the most eager to fill it has been the livewire Javier Hernandez, the latest to pick up Rooney's baton. And he looks like he really wants to run with it. Nani has also contributed the kind of stats that actually put Gareth Bale to shame. The Portuguese has provided either a goal or an assist to every United game this season. Before yesterday, Bale had only offered two goals in 10 league games.

The freshness of Nani and Hernandez aside though, there's still a patched-together element to United that reflects that pattern of intermittent scoring. A sense of players just about doing enough to keep in touch rather than actually take control. It goes hand in hand with the lack of stardust among the squad in Rooney's absence. It's also reminiscent of the 1996-97 season when Eric Cantona began to wane. Just as Hernandez has done now though, a similar relative novice such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer began to assume responsibility for a startling amount of important goals and was that campaign's top scorer. But behind it all was Ferguson's eternal drive. As long as United have that, they'll always at least be competitive regardless of the exact quality of the squad. Even if they do need it now, more than ever.

It's already taken effect this season. His fire-breathing has started to even out United's form after a series of uncharacteristic collapses and draws. Thanks to his management, they're gradually picking up momentum.

Ferguson also seems to have the measure of both City and Roberto Mancini, as four league wins in a row and a Carling Cup tie victory prove. Given the events of the last few weeks and the negative manner in which some City players have spoken about Mancini's motivational skills, it's hard to imagine they'll be as fired up as United's. Ferguson will ensure that given the umbrage he's taken at even the suggestion City could overtake them. That's a character that's also come out in the manner of many of those match-winners. Three in the last four derbies have come in injury-time for United. Only enhancing that fighting spirit will be the feeling that Manchester's poorer – or, at least, more indebted – club have a point to prove: that it's not just Rooney that shows they still rule the city.

City may have a stronger squad and more stellar names with Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, David Silva and Yaya Toure just about trumping Rooney, Berbatov and Nemanja Vidic at present. But as United's scoring stats this season perhaps prove, the most important man, as ever, will likely be the manager. Mancini will just have to come up with a way to baffle Ferguson again.