Ferguson has faith in old ally in title race

By Pete Oliver

MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson trusts his former assistant Archie Knox to make it tough for Chelsea as they bid to wrest the Premier League title away from the champions on Sunday.

United will retain the title if they beat Wigan Athletic away, whatever Chelsea manage in their final match at home to Bolton Wanderers. The two teams are level on 84 points but United enjoy a far superior goal difference.

Ferguson expects no favours from Wigan manager and former United captain Steve Bruce but believes Bolton, under manager Gary Megson and his assistant Knox, could help his team by springing a surprise at Chelsea.

Bolton are safe from relegation, barring an enormous defeat at Chelsea, but Ferguson believes the presence of Knox, who also worked alongside Ferguson during a remarkable run of success at Scottish club Aberdeen, will keep them on their toes.

"All the press seem to be talking about is the integrity of Wigan. Nobody has questioned or even mentioned Bolton," Ferguson told reporters on Friday.

"It's interesting, the different attitudes because all we've got is Wigan players saying: 'We want to beat Man United'. That's fine. There's no problem with that because we are a big club.

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"And then you hear about Bolton players out celebrating all week and that amazes me, the change in attitude.