Fergie chases away goal

Alex Ferguson has set Manchester United the task of grabbing an away goal when they enter the revamped knockout phase of the Champions League at the new Estadio do Dragao in Porto tonight.

Twice in three seasons - against Monaco in 1998 and Real Madrid the season after their treble triumph - United emerged from away legs of quarter-final ties with creditable 0-0 draws only to then get knocked out on home soil due to their failure to keep clean sheets.

Ferguson said: 'It is important that we try to score. We have had one or two 0-0s in the past and it is not a comfortable situation to be in.

'You never feel as though you have achieved a result that makes you happy.

'That is why our main job will be to try and score and hope that gets us a result.'

When United run out onto a relaid surface at a ground that will host the opening game of this summer's European Championships, they will be without suspended Rio Ferdinand and ankle injury victim Mikael Silvestre.

Ferguson may pair John O'Shea with Wes Brown in the centre of his defence, or bring skipper Roy Keane back from midfield, or switch Gary Neville from his usual right-back berth.

Every alternative has some element of danger attached, although the United manager is confident his players can survive the test.