Reds in for another fight

After scraping through against Derby County, United are in for another battle against Bolton Wanderers when the relegation-threatened North-west side visit Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Trotters skipper Kevin Nolan has pleaded with the club's fans to get behind the team at Old Trafford as they begin a run of nine games to protect their Premier League status.

Gary Megson's men were booed off the pitch after a 1-0 defeat away to Wigan on Sunday, a fourth straight league defeat which continues their perilous slide toward potential relegation.

"We were poor against Wigan, especially in the first half," Nolan told the club's website. "In the second half we put them under pressure but it was just that goal we needed. We were rightly booed off by our fans.

"It's always disappointing to see that and to see the anger in their faces. As club captain I ask them to please stay with us. We need them in our hour of need. It's up to us to stand up and be counted. We've got nine games to get ourselves out of this. It's not the time to talk about it, we need to do it."

Megson's men, who beat the Reds back in November at the Reebok Stadium, have struggled since Chelsea signed their goalscorer on that day, Nicolas Anelka, in the January transfer window.

And they will now also be without influential goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. The Finland international missed Sunday's defeat to Wigan with a back problem, and is unlikely to play again this season.