Ferguson: Noise is the barrier and not pitch ban

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed the Fratton Park band will prove more of an interference than the start of his two-match touchline ban.

However, the FA has confirmed he would not be barred from communicating with his staff from the Portsmouth directors' box. The purpose of the ban is merely to prevent Ferguson from coming into contact with the match officials during the course of the game.

It's the first of two matches in which Ferguson will have to sit in the stands after he was punished for criticising referee Alan Wiley's fitness earlier this season, and he admits the famous Pompey Chimes have the potential to make the outspoken Manchester United boss unheard - a rare feat indeed this season.

Ferguson insists he has few concerns about the impact his punishment will have on his team.

"All the lines of communication are in place but the problem you have got is that Fratton Park is such a noisy place,'' Ferguson said.

“It’s one of these old stadiums – it's a bit rickety. The directors' box is towards the home end where all the noise comes from. It is a good racket for sure. It is a terrific football stadium.''

United may find themselves languishing five points behind Chelsea in the Premier League title race, but Sir Alex Ferguson can take solace in the fact that a win against Portsmouth on Saturday would make his side the first in English football history to record 2,000 league wins since 1892.

Ferguson has also reportedly given his backing to Pompey’s new manager Avram Grant, believing him to be the man to save the club from relegation. Talking about Grant's new role in trying to re-establish Portsmouth as some kind of Premier League force, Ferguson said:

"Portsmouth have some very good players. I have looked at their videos and they may be in a false position. But being bottom of the league does create a reaction from owners and management of a club.”

"If you are third or fourth bottom you think everything will be okay. But when you see your team going bottom it creates a dread about where they are going to be next season.''