Sir Alex Ferguson wary of the threat CFR Cluj will pose to Manchester United in the Champions League

Sir Alex Ferguson: Ready for a difficult game against CFR Cluj in the Champions League

Sir Alex Ferguson is anticipating a tricky encounter against CFR Cluj in the UEFA Champions League but hopes Manchester United will kick on following some lacklustre displays this season.

For the fifth time in six Premier League outings, the Red Devils fell behind against Tottenham at the weekend and were unable to recover as they went down 3-2 in a thriller at Old Trafford.

Having seen his side also start slowly in clashes with Liverpool and Southampton, Ferguson would like to think the second-half performance at the weekend will prove to be a turning point.

He said: "We were well off the pace of the game. I don't think we won a tackle in the first half. The second half was probably our best performance of the season.

"When you consider the first half against Southampton, the first half Liverpool and first half on Saturday, we have some work to do.

"You have to be concerned losing goals the way we did. It's not planned but I think it will be the last."

Ferguson insists there is no danger of United underestimating Cluj tonight, with the Romanian side having knocked out Basel in the Champions League play-off round and then beaten Braga in their opening group game.

"As part of our preparations we have to assess the opposition and we saw their performance in the last game against Braga," said Ferguson. "[Before that] they knocked out Basel, beating them twice. We know from our own experience last season that Basel knocked us out. That gives us every respect for Cluj because it tells you they're a good team.

"Cluj defend quickly and get plenty of bodies behind the ball. The main strength is counter-attack, as they showed against Braga.

"Counter-attacking has become a very important part of European football. Now it's done by four or five players, not one or two like 20 years ago, and the positive nature of the counter-attack has made the Champions League much better."