Ferguson gamble pays off

Panathinaikos 0 Man Utd 1

Diego Forlan blasted Manchester United into the knock-out phase of Europe's most prestigious competition with his 85th-minute winner and Ferguson must now hope the fresh legs of Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy and the Neville brothers will lead a similar trek to victory in the vital Premiership encounter with Chelsea.

Despite claiming yesterday he would field his best available side against the Greek Group E basement dwellers, the United boss opted to leave three of his key men on the bench and kept them there even though his team struggled to break down the home side in a drab encounter.