Window of opportunity for resilient United

ALEX FERGUSON has urged Manchester United to ease their Champions League pain by piling more misery on underfire Chelsea.

After spending the last three months desperately searching for a glimmer of hope in the Premiership title race, Ferguson has finally spotted the opening he craves.

Victories over Portsmouth at Old Trafford today and against relegation threatened Crystal Palace next Saturday would reduce Chelsea’s lead to just three points by the time Jose Mourinho’s resume their championship campaign at Norwich with an evening kick-off.