His side will move three points clear of main title rivals Arsenal if they beat Bolton Wanderers, who are languishing in the Premier League relegation zone, today.

It will be the second time in five days that United will face one of the bottom three clubs, following their victory over basement club Derby County last Saturday.

Ferguson, though, is concerned that his normally free-scoring side appear 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 put them ahead of Arsenal on goal difference.

The United manager wants to ensure that the Red Devils prevail should the title be decided by goal difference.

While Ferguson praised Ronaldo for the way 'he eventually scored with the most difficult chance he had', he will want United to net more so they do not have to rely on slip-ups by Arsenal and Chelsea.

'The missed chances are becoming a concern,' said the manager.

'Against Portsmouth and against Derby, we were really charitable.

'It's a sticky spell that we must get over because we've got big games coming up - against Bolton and Liverpool at home.

'We want to start taking our chances. If we start taking them, then someone is going to suffer.'

He has a selection dilemma following Ben Foster's impressive debut against Derby.

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

'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 Wanderers winning 1-0.

Manager Gary Megson hoped that would be a launching pad for his side's campaign. But four successive league defeats, including the depressing 0-1 loss against 10-man Wigan last weekend, have left them deep in trouble.

With nine games left, Bolton must still face United, Arsenal and Chelsea. Their prospects look bleak and captain Kevin Nolan admitted they faced a major struggle to stay up.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Manchester United v Bolton Wanderers
Live, Ch22 & Ch303, tomorrow, 3.55am

THEY'LL SUFFER

'We want to start taking our chances... then someone is going to suffer.'

ALEX FERGUSON, United manager