FERGIE FINDS NO CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

RIO FERDINAND'S fitness continues to furrow many brows but Sir Alex Ferguson has more than one doubt in defence after a 3-3 draw at home to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

Though a 90th-minute own goal from Georgi Schchennikov - the helpless defender deflecting a speculative shot from Luis Antonio Valencia past his own goalkeeper - ensured United's expected qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, the home side's performance raised more questions than answers.

Five days before a top-of-the-table clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic's deputies, Wes Brown and Jonny Evans, were found to be not up to the job at an initially subdued Old Trafford.

A Milos Krasic-inspired CSKA had led 3-1 shortly after half-time and United's 22-match unbeaten home record in Europe's premier club competition was saved only by a late second-half flurry.

After Michael Owen had briefly restored parity in the first half, a header from Paul Scholes six minutes from full-time and a fortunate own goal spared United's blushes.

FRAILTIES

Ferguson's team showed six changes from the team which was untested by an ultra defensive Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. There was no hint then of United's defensive frailties but they were laid bare by a surprisingly potent CSKA.

Alan Dzagoev lashed an unlikely opener from an impossible angle in the 25th minute after Wes Brown, Jonny Evans and Edwin van der Sar were all caught out.

Owen atoned for two earlier misses by drawing his team level almost immediately. Latching on to a cross from Valencia, the striker's turn and shot was instinctive.

1 minute and 47 seconds later United's defence was exposed again as Krasic, benefiting from a tight offside call, collected Tomas Necid's pass and rounded Van der Sar to give the Russians the lead once more.

Federico Macheda and Scholes called Igor Akinfeev into action as the home side, probably anticipating the stern words of Ferguson, ended the first period playing better than they had done earlier in the half.

Ferguson's doubtless colourful words had no effect because, almost straight from the kick-off, CSKA went 3-1 up when Vasili Berezutsky headed in a free-kick at the far post.

URGENT

The temperature was rising and Ferguson's blood pressure would not have been helped either by the referee's bizarre decision not to award United a penalty when Darren Fletcher was felled inside the area by CSKA goalscorer Berezutsky. No penalty but a yellow card to Fletcher for diving.

Wayne Rooney's paternity leave was cut short midway through the second half and Old Trafford gave its biggest cheer of the evening. Whether it was for Rooney's arrival or the departure of the ineffectual Nani was unclear.

A more urgent United was inevitable in the aftermath of Rooney's introduction, but Scholes' free-kick was parried by the impressive Akinfeev and Rooney's header drifted wide.

Defensively very suspect, United's belief, a commodity which is something that comes quite easily to the champions of England, was nevertheless in ample evidence.

Akinfeev whose handling and positioning was almost impeccable throughout demonstrated both attributes to deny first Owen and then Rooney on the follow up.

Macheda's downward header struck the inside of the post before that man again, Akinfeev, was up quickly to deny Rooney.

However United's pressure was unanswerable - even by the high standards set by the Russian goalkeeper.

Scholes headed past the exposed Akinfeev six minutes from time before Valencia's shot took a wicked deflection to wrongfoot the keeper and help his team from an embarrassing defeat.

Deividas Semberas was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a clash with United substitute Gabriel Obertan as the Russians' hopes of claiming a famous victory evaporated.

Worse news soon arrived from Turkey - Wolfsburg's 3-0 win at Besiktas means it is the Germans who are likely to follow Ferguson's faltering side into the knockout stage.

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