Fergie - Goodison a nightmare

Sir Alex Ferguson admits Manchester United never relish playing at Everton ahead of their Goodison Park encounter.

Ferguson's 700th game in charge of the Red Devils sees his charges journey to Merseyside to take on David Moyes' Toffees on Saturday.

The Premier League match has been centred on whether Wayne Rooney - a former Evertonplayer - will start after allegations about his private life.

But Ferguson was more concerned with readying his troops to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

"It is always a nightmare going there and it wouldn't matter whether it was Dixie Deanplaying for us. It is a hard place to go to," said the Scottish tactician.

"The atmosphere is fantastic. But we have had to deal with it for many years and there is no problem with our record there."

Changes

Indeed, while, by his own admission, Unitedwere slaughtered in the corresponding fixture last year, Ferguson's team have lost just three times at Goodison in the entire Premier League era.

Their chances of success this time around have been increased by both Everton's poor form and the return of Ferguson's huge international contingent, including Rooney, 24 hours earlier than usual.

For that, United have the new international fixture calendar to thank, which, in the case of Tuesday matches, Ferguson is hugely appreciative.

"It is the best decision Fifa have made in my time here," he said.

"I don't know why it has not been done before.

"It gives club managers a great boost and is not a problem for the international managers because they still have 10 days with their players."