United has goals in mind against Bolton

MANCHESTER: Manchester United wants to get back on the goal trail when ity faces Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford here on Wednesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side will move three points clear of main title rival Arsenal if it can beat a Bolton team languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.

It will be the second time in five days United has faced one of the bottom three following its victory over basement club Derby County last weekend.

Ferguson, though, is concerned that his normally free-scoring side appears to have lost confidence in front of goal with recent games marked by a glut of missed opportunities.

Cristiano Ronaldo's invaluable winner at Pride Park was only United's second goal in three outings and did put it ahead of Arsenal on goal difference.

While Ferguson praised the Portugal winger for the way "he eventually scored with the most difficult chance he had", he'll want United to take more of its opportunities between now and the end of the season so as to prevent its title defense from becoming too reliant on slip-ups by the Gunners and Chelsea.

"We're getting really good chances and we've got to start putting them away," said United defender Wes Brown.

"We made it hard for ourselves against Derby. We could have finished the game in the first 10 or 15 minutes. Luckily we got the winner in the end, which was a real relief."

Brown admitted that, scoring problems aside, United's return to the top of the table had given Ferguson's men a timely boost.

"It's always good to be top," he added. "If we can get another three points against Bolton, it'd be great for us and we know then that if we win every game, we will win the league again."

United manager Ferguson has a selection dilemma following Ben Foster's impressive debut in goal against Derby.

The England keeper was drafted in because Edwin van der Sar is injured and regular deputy Tomasz Kuzsczak was serving a one-match ban.

But with the Pole available once again, Ferguson must decide whether to return Foster to the substitutes bench.

"In his debut in a competitive game for United, he showed what England are going to enjoy for the next 10 years," Ferguson said of Foster. "I think he'll be England's goalkeeper without question."

United's visit to the Reebok Stadium in November marked the high point of Bolton's season with the Wanderers running out 1-0 winners.

Manager Gary Megson hoped that would be a launching pad for his side's campaign, but four successive league defeats - including the depressing loss against 10-man Wigan last weekend - have left it deep in trouble.

Megson's men were booed off the pitch after a 1-0 defeat at Wigan and their cause has not been helped by the loss of keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen for the rest of the season with a back injury.

AFP

(China Daily 03/19/2008 page22)