Avram Grant's side are nine points adrift of Arsenal and six behind United but have a game in hand on both their rivals.

Ferguson takes his team to Fulham tomorrow, insisting the title race will be tight and tough.

"The number of points Chelsea are behind Arsenal is not insurmountable because in this Premier League points can be dropped," the United boss told www.leaguemanagers.com.

"The fact that they have got us and Arsenal at home, and their home record is so good, you would have to think they have still got a big chance in the Premier League."

Ferguson, however, believes Chelsea would be happier winning the Champions League rather than the domestic crown.

He said: "I think that is what they are really after given Roman Abramovich's contribution to their rise in the last few years.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson insists that victory against United is a must if the Cottagers are to avoid being sucked further into the relegation mire.

"We need to win," said Hodgson. "We need to win our home games and some away games as well.

"There is an element of luck and sometimes you can play well and lose, or play badly and win.

"I am very much aware that wins are the order of the day for us and if we don't get some soon then our predicament will worsen."

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed he decided not to appeal against Martin Petrov's red card because of what happened to Jeremie Aliadiere.

Petrov will serve a three-match suspension, starting with tomorrow's home match against Wigan, after kicking out at Leon Osman during Monday's defeat to Everton.

Although Eriksson claimed the Bulgarian had been harshly treated, he has let the matter rest.

That is because Middlesbrough striker Aliadiere's ban was increased from three matches to four after he slapped Liverpool's Javier Mascherano.

Eriksson said: "It is probably better not to appeal as that was a strange decision.

"If you make a bad tackle and injure someone then that is much more dangerous but perhaps the FA want to give examples to young people.

"They don't want you to put your hand in the face of another player or kick out, even if it is a small kick."

Erik Edman has revealed he had no qualms in joining Wigan's bid to beat the drop due to the lure of a return to the Premier League.

Boss Steve Bruce's £500,000 capture from Rennes six weeks ago finally made his debut in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Derby, helping the Latics to move up to 14th and four points clear of the relegation zone.

The 29-year-old is delighted to be back in the big time in England, just under three years after spending 13 months with Tottenham - where he made 34 appearances.

"I could have waited and left this summer, but I felt this was a chance for me to come," said Edman, who joined at a time when Wigan were 17th in the table.

"Despite Wigan's position, I was unconcerned.

"At the end of the day, it was all about the lure of the Premier League and I wanted to play in it again."

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing has warned his team-mates not to allow dreams of FA Cup glory to deflect them from their Premier League mission.

The Teessiders booked a quarter-final tie with Coca-Cola Championship Cardiff with their fifth-round replay victory over Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

But Downing, who signed a new five-year contract on Monday, is acutely aware there is still work to be done in the league - and that tomorrow's visit of Reading to the Riverside Stadium represents a golden opportunity to squash any relegation fears.

He said: "I remember before here, we have struggled in the league and kicked on in the cup.

"But this time we have got to kick on in the league, because there are a lot of teams in around us; two losses, and you are right back in there."

Reading manager Steve Coppell insists the players he will discard before tomorrow's trip to Middlesbrough are not the scapegoats for their current disastrous form.

The Royals have nose-dived alarmingly since Christmas and have lost their last eight Premier League fixtures - an unwanted club record - and Coppell has promised to make changes following the most recent, Sunday's 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.

He said: "I have shown more than enough faith in a lot of people and would be justified in changing all 11 but because I have faith in a lot of them, there will be changes but not that many.

"And I don't want anyone to assume or presume that the players who will be left out are being blamed.

"I don't think there is anyone at the moment who is jumping out and saying, 'look at me, I'm playing really well, I should be the first name on your team-sheet'."