It might not have escaped the notice of Manchester United’s supporters that, while they were leaving the Olympic Stadium complaining of violence from the AS Roma supporters and indiscriminate brutality from the Italian police, Sir Alex Ferguson was enthusing about a wonderful atmosphere in which “any player in the world would want to play”.

That gives some impression of just where a manager’s focus lies while ugly scenes are unfolding in the stands above and behind him, but it also offers an indication of Ferguson’s belief in the role that an impassioned home crowd can play. Unaware of the trouble that had occurred inside and outside the stadium, the Scot was in awe of the “clamour and noise” that Roma’s fans created and will hope that United’s fans can whip up a similar atmosphere — in terms of noise levels, that is — when the Italian team arrive in Manchester for the second leg on Tuesday.

Ferguson ventured that it will be a “great night” at Old Trafford, predicting that “if we score, we will get through”. Wayne Rooney suggested that United’s supporters had an important part to play, while Ryan Giggs, another who was seemingly unaware of the night’s more unsavoury happenings, said: “Hopefully on Tuesday it will be the same atmosphere. I’m sure it will. European nights at Old Trafford are always special.”

Special they may be, but one reason why they do not quite capture the imagination as those European nights down the East Lancs Road in Liverpool do, is that United’s supporters have rarely witnessed a comeback such as the one that is required next week.

United supporters are far rowdier than the “prawn sandwich” myth would imply, particularly away from home, but only once in six attempts since a memorable 3-0 second-leg win over Diego Maradona’s Barcelona in a European Cup Winners Cup tie in March 1984, have they turned around a first-leg deficit — and that was against Zalaegerszeg, a little-known Hungarian team, in a Champions League qualifying match in August 2002.

Five times they have failed, including at home in second legs against Borussia Dortmund (in 1997), Real Madrid (2003) and FC Porto (2004). It is of little consolation that Dortmund and Porto went on to win the competition.

Roma showed enough quality on Wednesday to suggest that they could do likewise if they can overcome United, but after Rooney’s important away goal on the hour, the second leg could hardly be more delicately poised.

“They’re a good team,” Rooney said after scoring in the Champions League proper for the first time since his United debut against Fenerbahçe in September 2004. “They pass the ball really well and they like to create chances. We know it’s going to be a difficult game, but we have the home advantage. We knew once we got the goal it would be difficult for them to come to Old Trafford with the fans we have there.”

It will be harder for United, though, in the absence of Paul Scholes, who was sent off on Wednesday for committing two bookable offences in the space of eight first-half minutes. His red card and subsequent one-match suspension could yet prove more important than Rooney’s expertly taken away goal, although it is offset in some way by the return from injury of Darren Fletcher and Louis Saha as substitutes against Roma added to the likely availability of Patrice Evra for tomorrow’s visit to Portsmouth after a month out with a calf injury.

“It will be a blow without Scholesy, but we’ve been losing players all season, especially lately, and that is when the squad has come into play,” Giggs said. “It feels like a successful night, considering the circumstances. It’s half-time in the tie and now we’ve got to go and finish the job off. Overall we’re pleased with the result. This was the sort of occasion and atmosphere you want to be involved in.”

United supporters would be forgiven for thinking otherwise, but they will be urged to put aside their grievances and get behind their team on Tuesday.

All to play for

Is Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat away to AS Roma a bad result? On recent evidence, the tie is in the balance (Bill Edgar writes). Over the past five seasons, 20 ties in the Champions League (including the preliminary rounds) have produced a 2-1 defeat for the away team in the first leg and those sides have gone on to win ten and lose ten on aggregate.

United remember one such instance all too well. After losing 2-1 away to FC Porto, coached by José Mourinho at the time, in the first leg of their first knockout round tie in 2003-04, they were held 1-1 at Old Trafford in the return.

On the other hand, in the 2004-05 season, Chelsea lost 2-1 away to Barcelona in the first knockout round but beat the Spanish side 4-2 at home.