Preview: Ferguson demands United response

By Ben James Apr 9, 2007, 11:52 GMT

London - Sir Alex Ferguson has called on his Manchester United players to show their fighting spirit as they look to bounce back following Saturday's Premiership defeat at Portsmouth.

The defeat, United's first in the league since January, cuts their lead over Chelsea at the top of the Premiership to three points, and could hardly have come at a worse time as United look to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit against Roma in the Champions League quarter-final Tuesday.

'These things happen,' Ferguson told Sky Sports. 'It's come at a bad time maybe but the players have shown their character all season and I expect us to recover now.

'We're a little bit stretched in terms of playing the young players all the time but I've got the benefit of an FA Cup tie next weekend and a 10 day break from the league programme, which is probably at the right time for us.'

It was the manner of Saturday's 2-1 defeat that will have concerned Ferguson, though.

A lack of communication between goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and centre-back Rio Ferdinand was responsible for the second goal, and Van der Sar was at least partly at fault for the first.

The absence of Serbia centre-back Nemanja Vidic, who has broken a collar bone, was sorely felt.

Forward Louis Saha was also missed, but he should have recovered sufficiently from a hamstring problem to be named among the substitutes Tuesday.

Defender Gary Neville, though, is still out with ankle ligament damage, while forward Paul Scholes is suspended after his red card in Rome.

Roma, by contrast, enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 win over Catania Saturday, despite resting Francesco Totti, Daniele de Rossi, Alessandro Mancini, Cristian Chivu and Christian Panucci.

Totti has a slight sciatic problem, but coach Luciano Spalletti is optimistic he will have recovered for Tuesday's game.

Midfielder Simone Perrotta, who was born in Graeter Manchester but plays for Italy, will miss out through suspension and is likely to be replaced by the Peru international David Pizzarro.

Mirko Vucinic, having captained Montenegro to victory in their first ever international and then scored the winner in the Stadio Olimpico last week, continued his great run of form with Roma's second against Catania.

'Mirko did very well for us both Saturday and against Manchester,' Spalletti said, although Vucinic is likely to start on the bench again.