Alex Ferguson has hit out at the crazy fixture scheduling he believes has handed Chelsea an unfair boost in the race for the Premiership title.

Although Manchester United remain in pole position, six points clear with just seven games left heading into today's evening clash with Portsmouth, Chelsea are strongly fancied to halve the deficit against Tottenham a few hours earlier.

Spurs have been pressed into action just 39 hours after completing their draining Uefa Cup quarter-final first leg in Seville.

Chelsea rejected Tottenham's efforts to get the Stamford Bridge clash put back 24 hours as is usually the case after Thursday Uefa Cup games because of their own scheduled flight to Valencia ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final return leg, throwing the decision back into the Premier League's hands.

And, much to Martin Jol's displeasure and Ferguson's disbelief, the authorities decided the original date and kick-off time should stand.

"Given the power Chelsea seem to have over issues like this, I am not surprised," said Ferguson.

"If the game had been played on Sunday lunchtime, Chelsea would still have had well over two full days to prepare for the Valencia game. As it is, Tottenham get 39 hours. What is the right decision?

"It seems the Premier League are quite happy to give Chelsea the extra time but not Tottenham.

"If Tottenham lose, and lose out on a European place because of it, I don't imagine they will be very happy.

"But it is the Tottenham supporters I feel sorry for. They have travelled to see them play in Seville and now their team is asked to play again so quickly. It is letting them down in some ways."

If Chelsea do emerge victorious from the London derby, United's lead will be cut to its lowest level since Christmas.

Ferguson has already spoken about the psychological effect perceived swings in fortune can have, even when nothing has fundamentally changed.

So it is no surprise he is even more anxious than usual that United should approach the Fratton Park trip caring only about their own performance and result.

"We have to concentrate on ourselves," he said. "We have been doing really well. Our form is good. I have no issues about that at all. Hopefully that will continue."

In order to ensure his team were fully prepared for the Portsmouth encounter, Ferguson took the unusual step of keeping them in Italy after Wednesday's draining Champions League tussle with Roma.

By flying straight to the south coast, Ferguson has cut down his side's travelling time and with their eyes firmly focused on ending a four-year championship drought, the United boss does not believe there will be a problem with focus as attention shifts from major European challenges to huge ones on the domestic front.

"We have the league title uppermost in our thoughts and that is the best motivation you could possibly have," said Ferguson.

"It is not easy coming out of a European game but it really helps that we are challenging for the title and I also believe we have done the right thing by staying in Rome. We have avoided a long trip back, which has allowed us to prepare properly to give ourselves the best chance possible of getting a result at Portsmouth."

Although Louis Saha and Darren Fletcher are available following substitute appearances at the Stadio Olimpico and Patrice Evra will link up with his team-mates on the south coast after recovering from the knee injury that has sidelined him for six games, Ferguson is set to name an unchanged side.

Once again, Wayne Rooney will shoulder most of the attacking responsibilities, his confidence lifted by his goal in midweek, the first he has scored at Champions League level for 18 games.

His barren streak in Europe, coupled by his failure to find the target in almost three years of competitive combat for England, raised the first serious doubts over Rooney's ability.

However, Ferguson has remained resolutely behind the 21-year-old and is not about to change his stance now.

"The lad has scored 16 goals this season," said the United manager. "How many other 21-year-olds in Europe have done that?

"His workrate on Wednesday was absolutely terrific. He and Cristiano (Ronaldo) are on fire."