United Cry Foul At Lost Points

Subject:
 
Manchester United went top of the Barclays Premier League lastnight but did so on goal difference after a controversial Lee Bowyer equaliser earned Birmingham an unlikely point.
 
United will feel should lead England's elite outright after Bowyer's goal appeared to follow directly from at least 2 infringements.
 
United had looked set to regain top spot after Dimitar Berbatov fired United to a 1-0 lead towards the hour mark. The Bulgarian was moments later denied only by a post when his shot clipped the wrong side of the upright.
 
Birmingham's dogged resilience in defence ensured that United were frustrated around goal and as a result Sir Alex Ferguson's side did not capatalise on their dominance of possession. Anderson, arguably in the form of his United career, carried much less threat than has recently been discerned, his passes not managing to forge a path infront of the strikers.
 
Neither goalkeeper needed to be at their best although an outstanding outstretched arm from Ben Foster did deny Ryan Giggs a goal when the Welshman miscued a right footed cross.
 
Giggs later hit the target, and may have been lucky to escpae punishment, with a flying tackle into Bowyer. This coming after the Birmingham midfielder crunched a late, ankle-high tackle on Darron Gibson.
 
The away side emerged from the tunnel at half time and instantly sought to correct their first half inaccuracy and defficiency. Berbatov's goal came during a spell of sustained pressure from United.
 
The striker nonchalantly plucked the ball out of the air and into Gibson's feet in one seemless motion. Gibson intuitively drove towards the Birmingham defence before shifting the ball back to Berbatov who struck past Foster who was beaten low and at his near post.
 
That the ball seemed to get stuck under Berbatov made the ensuing venomous shot all the more clinical. The league's top scorer was denied from making it 2-0 by the outside of the right post following a effective, if uncharacteritic, run at the defence.
 
United though, as has been the case away from Old Trafford this season, were not home and dry and failed to consilidate the three points.
 
Nikola Zigic, who at 6' 7" dwarved Rio Ferdinand, replaced Jean Beausejour and the Blue's looked to pump the ball towards their Serbian target man.  
 
One such loft was met by Zigic who clearly impeded Ferdinand's jumping ability by leaning with both arms. One of those limbs was then responsible for pushing the ball into the path of Bowyer who slid in to volley home.   

Park Acrobats Send United Top

Manchester United nudged Arsenal off the top of the Premier League last night after Ji Sung Park scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against their north London rivals.

Park’s spontaneous header proved enough to gain three points for United, a result that would have been confirmed had Wayne Rooney found the net from the penalty spot late on and not the Stretford End.

Arsenal, for all their possession, proved fallible towards the United goal and failed to create any decent opportunities. Credit however must also be given to the strong United defence lead by a steely Nemanja Vidic and collected Rio Ferdinand.

The win sends United 2 points clear of second place Arsenal with a game in hand and means Arsene Wenger has not recorded a victory against United or fellow title contenders Chelsea in eleven attempts, losing ten of them.

Dimitar Berbatov was rewarded a place on the bench for his 5-goals in mauling of Blackburn, United’s last league game, as Sir Alex Ferguson opted for the oft effective Park, especially against the Gunners, in a five man midfield instead.

The tactic was reciprocated by Wenger and was the main cause of a match that failed to live up to its hyperbolic pre-match amble: it was scrappy and lacking, mostly, in fluidity.

Perhaps surprisingly it was Anderson who, operating off a lone Rooney, made the most impact throughout. The Brazilian eclipsed Arsenal’s young Englishman Jack Wilshere, his opposite: marauding going forward, pugilistic tracking back. With performances like this the midfielder will have no problem securing an extended contract.

Buoyed on by the Old Trafford faithful the home side exerted greater pressure than Wenger’s side. Rooney harried Arsenal’s defence and rushed debut goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny into sliced clearances, Nani went at Gael Clichy encouraged by the holding Michael Carrick and tireless Darren Fletcher.

The first chance came when an miss-cued clearance fell enticingly to Nani who, off balance, blasted a volley inches wide past the far post. Rooney was thrice afforded too much time to turn, his shooting though failed to draw inspiration from Szczesny.

The half was approaching its end when a deep Edwin Van Der Sar clearance was met by Darren Fletcher who flicked towards the Rooney. The England strikers first time glance to Nani sent the Portuguese winger goalwards.

When Nani eventually cut in to shoot on his left his drive was deflected off of Clichy’s heel and into the cold Mancunian air. Park, who had ran off of the left into the box and appearing off-balance and augmented, managed to adjust himself in seemingly contrasting directions to loop a header beyond the despairing Szczesny.

Arsenal, although having greater possession than United, were prevented from playing their characteristic football as Ferguson’s tactics to double up on Samir Nasri and Andrei Arshavin paid dividends.

Their only chances during the ninety minutes both fell to Marouane Chamakh who firstly headed into the arms of Van Der Sar from a difficult cross and then allowed Vidic time to recover and block after the United keeper parried a Nasri effort.

The late introduction of Theo Walcott, Robin Van Persie and returning captain Cesc Fabregas failed to penetrate an indomitable defence and Rooney could have instantly atoned for his penalty miss with a delicious half-volleyed lob but was denied by the impressive Szczesny.

United Avoid Giants With Draw

A rare Anderson goal ensured Manchester United progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League last night.

The Brazilian’s equaliser cancelled out Pablo Hernandez’s first half strike for Valencia and means United qualify top of group C.

The English side will subsequently avoid some of Europe’s heavyweights in the next round of the competition, including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

The only sour footnote was that Rio Ferdinand had to be replaced shortly after the restart and is now a doubt for his sides Premier League clash against Arsenal next Monday.

United were made to work for their share of the points despite coming up against a weakened Valencia side that included 8 changes from the team that lost to Madrid at the weekend.

The Spanish established an early dominance against a united midfield pairing of Michael Carrick and Anderson. Indeed it was Carrick who was dispossessed deep within his own half that lead to the first goal.

Jose Dominguez, who had enjoyed a lively start for the visitors, was gifted an opening when Carrick turned 360° before sloppily miss-cueing a short pass back to Ferdinand.

Dominguez took advantage of the England midfielder’s premature festive generosity taking the ball to the edge of United’s area and sliding a square ball onto the ensuing Pablo Hernandez.

Hernandez took one touch to steady himself before driving the ball through European debutant Ben Amos’ legs.

The goal came against the run of play and thirty seconds after a Wayne Rooney cross was met by a diving Ji Sung Park whose volley had the necessary power but not direction to guide the ball past Vicenti Guaita.

Rooney was centre to United’s most penetrable attacks and was denied only by the crossbar in the first half when he floated a dipping shot over a scrambling Guaita. A resurgent Rooney was also the architect of chances for Anderson and Dimitar Berbatov.

Firstly for the Brazilian who when one on one with Guaita in the first half hit a timid shot into the keeper when he had time to compose himself and then the Bulgarian, one usually renowned for close touches, took a heavy side-step that allowed the Valencia keeper to again prevent United a lead.

When United scored on the hour mark it failed to spark them into life and, as Rooney said afterwards, they looked to be hanging on for an important point. Berbatov headed wide from a Rooney cross and provider could have turned scorer with three decent efforts towards goal.

Given United’s profligacy a draw was a fair outcome but Ferguson’s will need to enforce the midfield and be clinical in front of goal if they are to make it to Wembley.

Villain’s Robbed By Late United Show

A youthful Aston Villa side were denied what would have been a deserved victory over Manchester United following two late goals that rescued a point for the travelling side.

A Villa win had looked inevitable after goals from Ashley Young and Mark Albrighton put them 2-0 up with ten minutes of normal time remaining. But such is the indefatigable desire instilled in Sir Alex Ferguson’s men that his side were able to register their first shot on target only in the 80th minute but still go on to earn the most unlikely of points.

Villa’s line up included a first Premier League start for 21 year-old Jonathan Hogg and a place for Barry Bannan, 20. Gerard Houllier also welcomed Gabriel Agbonlahor into his starting XI after recovering from a lengthy injury. With John Carew and Emile Heskey both out Villa would seek to use the pace of Agbonlahor and Ashley Young to trouble Rio Ferndinand and Nemanja Vidic. United started with the side that finished at City last Wednesday, the only change being Javier Hernandez in for the suspended Paul Scholes. Park Ji Sung was playing in his fourth consecutive league match, a fete he last achieved 2 years ago.

A match that ended memorably started poorly. For the first half an hour neither side could carve an opening but Dimitar Berbatov should have put United in front from 10 yards. The Bulgarian, who hasn’t scored in 8 league games now, was through to the left of goal but toed his shot wide with his left foot. Ashley Young then called Edwin Van Der Sar into action with a quick volley from outside the United area.

A clever United free-kick before the stroke of half time was the best chance of the opening forty five minutes. Evra was released wide in the opposing penalty area but both Berbatov and Hernandez failed to read his squared pass across the six yard line. It was the last act of a half where United had been careless with the ball and Villa looked the more probing.

As the second instalment got under way it was the home side that sought to leverage a victory. Stewart Downing was sweeping classy crosses into the box, one of them Albrighton ought to have converted after eluding Patrice Evra. The right back then had an opportunity to pull back to the oncoming Young but instead youthful exuberance prevailed and the England U-21 lashed wide.

The chances continued to fall to Villa and the best to James Collins who from a Downing cross thundered a header 6 inches too high against the rattling crossbar. The woodwork again came to United’s rescue when a blocked shot fell to Agbonlahor who snapped a drive against the up-right.

The clarets’ profligacy and persistence eventually paid dividends when the pace of Villa’s front two, Agbonlahor and Young, got the better of Ferdinand and Vidic before Brown impeded Young as he took aim inside the box. The winger made no mistake with his penalty, hitting it hard byond a wrong-footed Van Der Sar.

Ferguson, clearly irked, responded by hauling off Berbatov and Hernandez, replacing the two strikers with Kiko Macheda and Gabriel Obertan. The Italian’s impact was instant. Giving the ball away on the edge of Villa’s area Young catapulted forward and was ushered Downing down the flank with a well-weighted ball. Downing in an instant switched the play across the fabled channel that exists between goalkeeper and defender for Albrighton to side-foot past a despairing Van Der Sar. The pace at which Villa attacked was reminiscent of United in their ‘Fergie Fledgling’ heyday. An onlooking Fabio Capello would have noted all participants were eligible for his selection.

The goal all but sealed the Villain’s first home win against United since 1995, the year kids were deemed incapable of winning a league title by one pundit. But like Alan Hansen should have hedged his bets, Villa should have seen out the game. Instead United embarked on a remarkable ten minute comeback initiated when Macheda drove the ball high into the net following an astute back hell from Darren Fletcher. Villa Park twitched as wave after wave of, finally, meaningful attacks threatened to find a breakthrough. Inevitably it came.

Nani, who had had a disappointing game, crossed beautifully to the back post for Nemanja Vidic to dive and head beyond Brad Friedel. At 2-2 Villa felt hard done by but as Houllier accepted afterwards he would have taken the score before the match. Ferguson chastised his side describing them as “all over the place” and said Villa could have had 6 goals in the second half but, in a stark contrast to United mantra of past years, the kids weren't quite ready.

Derby Fails To Pack Punch

A rivalry year’s in the making. A relationship that was formerly amicable but now soured and intensified. A supposed underdog living in the shadow of a champion. Whether Audley Harrison can cause one of boxing’s great upsets and defeat David Haye in Manchester this Saturday remains to be seen but first of all there was the small matter of one of the most eagerly awaited Manchester derbies.

But if Haye-Harrison put on a ‘show’ like this one, people, spend your £15 elsewhere. Fireworks were expected but other than the garish, red flare waved by fans in the Manchester United end during City’s obligatory rendition of ‘Blue Moon’, the match was sparse of spark or gunpowder.

Manchester City were without Mario Ballotelli, the Italian suspended after being sent off against West Brom the weekend before. Rather than replace the strikier with attacking impetus, Roberto Mancini opted for the three central midfielders of Gareth Barry, Nigel De Jong and Yaya Toure. Adam Johnson’s threat would be limited to only twenty minutes as he was once again named as a substitute. Carlos Tevez, who prior to the match reiterated his contentment at City after switching from United two seasons ago, was the lone striker but David Silva was expected to assist the Argentine.

Sir Alex Ferguson, in his thirty ninth match against the Sky Blues, also named 5 midfielders with Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes, who dramatically headed United a last gasp winner in the same fixture in May, flanked by Park Ji Sung and Nani. Ryan Giggs was deemed unfit still and Wayne Rooney’s conditioning in America meant he was unavailable. Dimitar Berbatov was hoping to end a barren spell 7 league games without scoring.

A first half stymied by a crowded midfield and an inability by both teams to penetrate the opposing final third gave the impression that both teams would settle for a share of the points. That United scored three last minute winners against City last season perhaps suggested that the longer City didn’t score, the more likely United would.

The only chances of the half came to a player from either side. Patrice Evra, who seems to be suffering from quite a throbbing World Cup hangover, played a tidy one-two with Park but the shot that followed went straight into Joe Hart’s arms. Tevez was then awarded a free-kick towards the right of the area. Had the City captain struck it with more of his usual venom then Edwin Van Der Sar may have been beaten. Instead the Dutchman dived high to his left to make a less than troubling save. The half finished with United having had more possession, with Fletcher, Scholes and Carrick all retaining the ball confidently if not probingly.

A second half that lacked the guile of even the preceding one was made more interesting as United started to push higher up the field. If City were to score it needed to be when capatalising on the high full backs of Wes Brown , who had replaced Rafael, and John O’Shea, who came on for an injured Evra. They didn’t, and as a result even the introduction of Johnson, on for an ineffective and out of position James Milner, couldn’t supply Tevez with any opportunities.

An decent overhead kick by Berbatov could not find a way past Hart in goal and although they looked more likely to break the deadlock United failed in their quest to claim belated bragging rights. An echo of boo’s rang around Eastland’s, City fans only too aware that scoreless draws, especially at home, will not get them a coveted Champions League place. It might, however, give them a new manager.

There were cautious jabs, quick feet and ducks and dives but the knockout match that many expected may come Saturday night after all.

Gomes Gift Seals United Win

Brazilian’s, as we are oft reminded every four years, cannot defend. Referee’s, Tottenham Hotspur fans will retort, are none better at their job and it was a through bizarre cocktail of both perceptions that Manchester United gained three points after a controversial goal.

United were already 1-0 up when the second goal, coming in the 84^th minute , all but diminished any hope that Harry Redknapp had of rescuing a point. The goal came when Wes Brown neatly flicked the ball over Younes Kaboul for Nani to run onto towards goal. The Portuguese winger went down in the area under a tug with the type of force a man of Kaboul’s frame musters in his sleep.

Nani, theatrically expressing his disappointed with referee Mark Clattenburg’s decision, then clearly, although perhaps not to Clattenburg, grasped the ball within his vicinity in what can only be described as a sign of impudence.

As Nani left the ball in its position, unawares that Clattenburg had not blown his whistle, Heurelho Gomes strode forward and rolled the ball into his path.

The Brazilian keeper, known as ‘the octopus’, will wish that he the same foresight as fellow cephalopod, and recently deceased, Paul for he failed to envisage that Nani would take advantage of what was technically still an live situation and slide the ball into the empty net.

Spurs, lead by Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, were inevitably furious and were further miffed when the linesman held his flag to indicate an offence inside the box. Clattenburg, the only man in Old Trafford not to have seen Pedro Mendes’ 40-yard ‘goal’ in January 2005, ushered the barrage of Spurs players away to confer with his assistant only to conclude the goal was legal. That Rio Ferdinand was allowed to voice his two-pennies worth during the collusion further plunged Clattenburg’s reputation, especially at Old Trafford, into contention.

“A real cock-up” was how Redknapp described the incident, the Spurs manager saying the decision was “scandalous”. That United were 1-0 up with six minutes remaining may render the decision obsolete in terms of the outcome of the match but what must be of concern to Spurs fans is that the result further cements their teams dismal record away to the ‘Big Four’ in the Premier League: zero wins from sixty eight attempts.

It could have been different for Spurs when they made lively start after Park Ji Sung struck the outside of Gomes’ post early on. That outcome was reciprocated by Rafael van der Vaart who shuddered United’s post before Nemanja Vidic headed home a Nani freekick on the half hour mark. That the United captain was free to header echoes the stature and importance of Ledley King and Michael Dawson to the Spurs back four.

Luka Modric tested Edwin van der Sar with a clean strike but, despite a malfunctioning midfield combination of Park, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were able to stymie the attacking quartet of Bale, van der Vaart, Modric and Peter Crouch.

The match will undoubtedly be remembered for ‘Clattenburg 2’ but it is Spurs’ away from that should trouble Redknapp in his pursuit for fourth spot and beyond. United meanwhile are now 4 wins in as many matches, with or without the referee’s assistance.

Rooney contemplates United exit

Wayne Rooney has reportedly shunned contract negotiations with Manchester United and privately admitted his willingness to cross the Mancunian border and join the blue revolution following a monumental breakdown in relations with Sir Alex Ferguson.

United must now gauge Rooney’s market value and decide whether to sell him during the winter transfer window or wait until the summer when the strikers value may have dwindled. Conversely Ferguson may seek to repair the acrimony that has festered in recent weeks since Rooney’s private life became tabloid fodder.

The damage though is allegedly irreparable and unlike previous falling’s out involving United icons, it is the player who might have the final say and not Ferguson.

Things are said to have soured between the two in the wake of reports in national newspapers of Rooney’s affair with the prostitute Jennifer Thompson. Ferguson reportedly blamed his striker for bringing his club into disrepute before omitting him from the side that travelled to Everton, on the grounds of the “vile” abuse Rooney would receive, and Valencia due to a persistent ankle injury suffered last season in Munich.

Or so Ferguson said. What has transpired since is that Rooney may have been left out of the squad, like he was left out of the starting XI on Saturday, as punishment for his off-pitch behaviour and his blatant contradiction of Ferguson’s assertion that he was injured during an interview.

This, coupled with United’s staggeringly sluggish and, according to Rooney’s camp, underwhelming contract talks has created the perfect storm over Old Trafford.

The odds on Rooney leaving in January have been slashed to 2/1 but the suitors are limited to new football money with Manchester City and Chelsea potential buyers. The thought of Rooney, for most fans the quintessential talismanic leader, wearing the blue of City would be unbearable for most of the United faithful. But it would take the most short –sighted to rule it out. Rooney has after all already ditched Everton (“once a blue, always a blue”) for greater riches and success at United. Who says he will not do the same to the Manchester club like Carlos Tevez did last summer. Rooney may even look to Tevez as an example of the adoration and opportunities he would command.

Although Chelsea have become more prudent in more recent seasons a move for Rooney could be viable despite Abramovich’s remuneration and transfer fee ceiling. A potential stumbling block could be Rooney’s apparent reluctance to move away from the north: a factor that may render Real Madrid and Barcelona a undesirable destinations.

Where would this leave United? Ferguson has repeatedly stated his admiration for Rooney and how his desire fuels his own to continue at the helm. As loss such as this would therefore hurt Ferguson and consequently United. Who would the players look to for that decisive moment? Who would fans urge to beat everyone in front of them? The irony may be that Rooney, a player bought to succeed Van Nistelrooy, has no natural heir and this may be another reason why the striker seeks to ply his trade elsewhere, somewhere where the burden is less strenuous.

Indeed it has been rumoured that Rooney is concerned at the lack of quality players brought in and vision of the future at the club. Having won 6 major trophies at United and sitting unbeaten in the current season you must wonder quite what Rooney’s idea of a successful future is.

Sunderland 0-0 Manchester United: Match Report

Steve Bruce must wonder what he has to do to beat Manchester United. His Sunderland side fought hard and dominated play on Saturday but the former United captain left the Stadium of Light having failed to beat his former employers for the 16^th time as a manager. It’s unlikely Bruce will ever come as close.

Sunderland were up for this one. They challenged every loose ball and 50-50 with a pugnacious tenacity typified none-more so than by the magnificent Lee Cattermole. They created five goal scoring opportunities and had United on the ropes until Chris Foy’s whistle eliminated the chance of what would have been a knockout blow.

United put simply, were not at the races. They weren’t even in the paddock. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic looked uncomfortable throughout and had to rely on goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar to prevent the defenders’ blushes. Of all of the Black Cats’ chances, and the one Bruce would have rather fallen to Darren Bent and not Steed Malbranque saw the French midfielder squander a one-on-one with Van Der Sar. Malbranque out-ran Vidic and Ferdinand and onto a Cattermole pass but his shot was saved by the diving United keeper. Moments later Bouedewjin Zenden hit the outside of the post with a drive from outside of the box. United were rattled, Sunderland’s fans were raucous.

Going forward United were at their worst. So often a potent counter attacking side, it wasn’t until the second half that Ferguson’s side even had a shot on target. Michael Owen was given a rare start ahead of Dimitar Berbatov, partnering Frederico Macheda at the forefront of attack. Forty five minutes later Owen was withdrawn. His role for United will now surely be as a substitute and in cup matches against lesser teams before he heads down the M5 towards Birmingham and Gerard Houllier’s first team.

United’s midfield again seemed to be the weak link. Fletcher and, especially, Scholes were not given the commodities of time and space they have taken for granted in previous home matches and were stifled by the busy Cattermole.

Anderson was used on the left side of midfield and almost immediately provided another stymie for United’s midfield and John O’Shea. The Brazilian’s positional discipline was at best poor and worst potentially devastating, especially when leaving a vacuum behind him and exposing O’Shea to attacks. Saturday showed how Antonio Valencia’s injury has hampered United defensively as well as offensively.

In the second half United gained more possession but were foiled whenever they neared a position of any danger. Nani shot from far without threatening Mignolet in the Sunderland goal and Berbatov dragged a shot wide when he should have hit the target.

This was three points lost by Sunderland who have taken points from Arsenal, Liverpool and all three off of Manchester City. For United however it was a point that was barely deserved and clung onto.

Valencia 0-1 Manchester United: Match Report

Javier Hernandez fired Manchester United a late victory over Valencia last night in what was only Sir Alex Ferguson’s second win in 19 attempts against Spanish opposition in the Champions League.

The Mexican striker came off the substitute’s bench to fizz a left foot shot past Cesar Sanchez in the 85^th minute scoring his first European goal since his £7million arrival in the summer.

The result sends United top of group C joint with Rangers, who recorded their first win in the tournament in three seasons, and will in all likeliness qualify for the knockout stages with another four points.

Against a backdrop of industrial strikes over government cuts fans inside the Mestalla stadium – Iberian and sunburnt Mancunian’s alike - must have feared that Spanish austerity had manifested into their beloved football: this match threatened to never burst into live.

As is often the case away from Old Trafford in this tournament Ferguson preferred a five-man midfield with Dimitar Berbatov, whose rejuvenated finishing has been lethal in recent weeks, deployed as the lone striker in Wayne Rooney’s absence.

That Berbatov’s appearance marked his first start in the competition since CSKA Moscow in the corresponding stages last season shows how important the Bulgarian has become, especially as Rooney’s form evades him, to United. An early pot-strike from the Bulgarian was closer than either Sanchez or television angles seemed willing to accept.

As Valencia were without influential winger Joaquin, injured during training, the responsibility of carving open United, a hallmark of this summer’s World Cup winning Spanish side, fell to Pablo Hernandez. The midfielder was too often allowed space, afforded by the returning Michael Carrick and left-back Patrice Evra, and played a couple of bewitching balls across the penalty box.

The best chance of a lacklustre half fell, quite literally, to Roberto Solando. Hernandez outwitted Evra to play a ball that was subsequently spilled by Edwin Van Der Sar onto Solando’s head. The ball though dropped just over the net.

In the second half United shifted the ball with greater venom and purpose but it was only when Ferguson replaced the isolated Berbatov and ineffective Anderson with Frederico Macheda and Javier Hernandez that things clicked.

Almost immediately Darren Fletcher sought a lunging Hernandez who half-connected with a volley that struck the post. Both he and Macheda, preferred over the more natural poacher Michael Owen, linked for what would prove the decisive effort.

Macheda cutting into the box from the right passed into Hernandez who with his first touch guided the ball out of the defence’s way for him to find half a second to crash a shot into the bottom corner with his left foot.

United, confirming patterns discerned in the start to their season, were sub-standard and a better side may have punished their lack of midfield guile and defensive assuredness. Although Rio Ferdinand was given the opportunity to rekindle his partnership with Nemanja Vidic it will take time to form the sort of understanding that made them the best pairing in Europe two seasons ago.

Ferguson will also have to rely on better closing down and initiative from his midfield. Fletcher and Carrick were caught leaving large gaps in midfield for Valencia to waltz into and the pair didn’t manage test Sanchez a single time. There must be greater on-field cohesiveness between midfield and forward’s and a return of defensive astuteness if United are to reclaim their greatest prize.

Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool: Match Report

He scored a goal at the opposite end to that of a memorable chip and his collar was flapping about rather than turned-up, but yesterday Old Trafford finally accepted a legend incarnate.

Dimitar Berbatov, after two seasons of trying to win the hearts of Manchester United fans, became only the second player in over 60 years to score a hat trick against arch rivals Liverpool. One of his goals, of Cantona-esque showmanship, will live long in the memory of those in the Stretford End.

His Liverpool counterpart, Fernando Torres, so often a tormentor of United’s backline, was eclipsed by the Bulgarian. Torres was starved of any supplies from a midfield who for large parts of the match were more concerned with retaining possession than carving open United as they had done so emphatically 18 months earlier at the same ground.

Berbatov gave United the lead, scoring his seventh goal of the season, as half time approached. Ryan Giggs swung in a corner which was met by United’s No.9 guiding header into the corner. His marker, Liverpool’s own No.9, Torres, was caught the wrong side of Berbatov who found the left corner past Pepe Reina.

His next evoked memories of the King himself. Nani, proving to be a constant threat to Paul Konchesky, crossed the ball Berbatov who, after Rooney made no contact, deftly controlled the ball with his thigh and unleashed an overhead kick which bounced off of the cross bar and into the net. Old Trafford erupted having temporarily frozen in anticipation. Or was that admiration?

The match should have been beyond Liverpool, Ferguson later acknowledging it may have turned into a “cricket score”. Nani rendered Reina a bystander with a shot that propelled against the post, adding to this earlier blundered effort. Rooney was similarly immobile when Nani sought out the striker with a teasing ball across the six yard box.

Hodgson though deployed Gerard and Raul Meireles further upfield to assistant an isolated Torres. The decision paid dividends and sparked a comeback United have become accustomed to over the past three weeks.

Joe Cole, guilty of playing ineffective passes throughout the first half, pushed a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Torres who was bought down cynically by Johnny Evans. It was the first time Torres was given the opportunity to get beyond Evans or Nemanja Vidic and the Merseysiders would rue not doing so earlier. Gerard confidently struck the ensuing penalty into the right corner, sending Edwin Van Der Sar the opposite way.

It was Torres again who played a decisive role in Liverpool’s equaliser, falling under John O’Shea’s senseless tug. Howard Webb, undertaking his second match since the World Cup final, deemed O’Shea infringement worthy of a yellow card, much to the vocalised disbelief of Torres.

Ferguson branded the striker a ‘cheat’, saying the Spaniard had tried to remove the Ireland defender from proceedings. Replays showed Torres would have been lucky to reach Meireles’ pass before Van Der Sar. It was Gerard again who converted the set-piece, benefiting from a gap in the United wall and embarking on what seems a customary celebration involving a kiss and a camera.

Ferguson’s men were staring a wasted opportunity for the third consecutive Premier League match and Liverpool the most unlikely of points. Perhaps it was inevitable then that Berbatov, a figure of much derision for so long, would score the winner, his hat trick, in the “daddy of derbies” as Ferguson refers to this fixture.

The goal encapsulated the resurgence of United’s record signing. When John O’Shea swept a diagonal ball towards the penalty spot the Bulgarian out-jumped Jamie Carragher, generating enough power in the header for Reina to stand and observe.

He may not have puffed out his chest but Old Trafford lavished their new hero: “Ooh Aah Dimitar”, they sung.

Manchester United 0-0 Rangers: Match Report

Manchester United suffered an unexpected draw against Scottish champions Rangers last night with Antonio Valencia suffering a horror injury, furthering Sir Alex Ferguson’s misery.

Wayne Rooney made his first United appearance since allegations he slept with two prostitutes but was frustrated against a resolute and determined Rangers. Winger Valencia will today have surgery after he appeared to break his left ankle in an innocuous challenge with Kirk Broadfoot.

Ferguson named ten changes to the side that drew at against Everton in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, with Darren Fletcher the only survivor. The United manager handed season-debuts to Tomasz Kuszcak, Chris Smalling, Wes Brown, Darron Gibson and, returning from World Cup injury, Rio Ferdinand. Rangers manager Walter Smith welcomed Kirk Broadfoot into his side after a late fitness test.

Rangers set up with a flat 4-5-1, with Kenny Miller leading the line, and were prepared to allow United possession in the second third. When United did try to penetrate the final third, Rangers scurried around the ball and erased any attack. United’s main threat came from Gibson, whose first half strikes went close without ever threatening Allan McGregor’s goal. Rooney was partnered upfront by Javier Hernandez but the partnership failed to combine and cause Rangers’ defence, lead by 40 year-old captain David Weir, major problems.

Rangers proved effective at narrowing their shape and getting ten players behind the ball when United were in possession. A tactic utilised by many at Old Trafford but rarely with such success and ease.

Indeed, United looked like United but never truly played like they can. The tempo was slow for a Champions League game under the midweek floodlights. It took time for passes to be distributed wide and link up play was lacking inspiration.

During the second half, Valencia, who enjoyed a successful previous season, appeared to lose his footing under the threat of Broadfoot. Sky camera’s showed the injury in real time but refused to show replays such was the extent of the injury. He was stretchered off breathing through an oxygen mask and was taken straight to hospital. Ferguson later said that he expects the Ecuadorian to miss the rest of the season, meaning United are a winger down without a dearth of quality to fill in.

The introduction of Ryan Giggs gave United a more spark but it was the guile of Paul Scholes that was missed most by the 2008 winners. Openings were few and far between and it was left to the long range shooting of Gibson to provide the Old Trafford with any reason to expect a late goal.

As it was Rangers held out for an impressive 0-0 draw, the final whistle greeted by the travelling three thousand supporters with roars that will travel back to Glasgow with them.

After the match Ferguson defended his team selection saying that it had played with “great intensity” adding that with the side he played United should have emerged victorious.

Smith, a long-time friend of Ferguson’s, said his team had played well that it had been “a great night for us”.

Everton 3-3 Manchester United: Match Report

Such were the events leading up to this match that it comes as a surprise that a stunning climax made the headlines and not a tabloid villain.

In a divisive move, Ferguson omitted Wayne Rooney from Saturday’s trip to Goodison so as not to “subject him to the abuse” he would surely have endured. The Scot considered Rooney’s private affairs to be of greater cause for protection than, say, David Beckham’s after he returned home from the World Cup, shamed, in 1998. And if it wasn’t for the head of Tim Cahill, twice proving to be the undoing of United’s defence, Ferguson would have been reprieved for his gamble.

Everton went into the early kick-off looking for their first win of the season. United on the other were unbeaten, taking 7 points from their first three matches.

The home side made the early advances, dominating possession and creating shooting opportunities for Steven Pienaar. The South African, who David Moyes fought to keep at Everton during the summer, was the focal point of initial attacks, aided by Tim Cahill’s early aerial domination over Johnny Evans.

The pace simmered as United gained greater authority and so did the ferocity of an Everton faithful no doubt deflated by the absence of a former hero. “Rooney”, harked the United fans, reminding the blue half of Liverpool who the striker had left Everton for.

John O’Shea, playing in a five-man midfield, first threatened Tim Howard’s goal, with a thunderous volley that clipped the outside of the post. United then proceeded to enjoy more possession and Everton were twice saved, once spectacularly, by Howard. Paul Scholes, assuming a trademark position on the outside of the area, struck a cleared corner only for a deflection to take it goal –bound. Howard denied his former team-mate with an instinctive leg that brought applause from all sides of the ground.

It was another United corner that lead to the first goal. Having defended Giggs’ out-swinging corner, the ball was played over the top of Patrice Evra, who, questionably, opted to try an overhead kick to clear and missed, allowing Mikel Arteta to race past Gary Neville and bear down on Edwin Van Der Sar’s goal. The Spanish midfielder was blocked by the Dutch keeper but only for Liam Osman to astutely, and precociously, square a pass for Pienaar to slot home.

Undaunted, United resumed where they were thirty seconds before and four minutes later grabbed an equaliser. Giggs swept a pass out wide to Nani who found the run of Darren Fletcher for the midfielder to volley past a helpless Howard. Moyes may have concerns at how easy United found Nani but make no mistake about the cross: perfection.

The second half started almost immediately with United’s second goal. Nani was again the provider, crossing in for Nemanja Vidic, who eluded Marouane Fellani to head powerfully downwards and in. The floodgates should then have opened. Nani should have threaded a pass to the awaiting Berbatov instead of blasting over, and Scholes, uncharacteristically, scuffed what by his standards should have been a simple conversion.

It came as no surprise to hear the sound of emptying chairs when Berbatov, put through by Scholes, screwed the ball with the outside of his right boot into the bottom right corner. The first touch of the striker, elegantly taking the ball away from Sylvain Distin, was followed by an equally sublime finish. Wayne who? Game over.

But the homeside hadn’t read the script and when the fourth official indicated 3 minutes of added time, an anointment that so often plays a key cameo role at United’s theatre of dreams, Leighton Baines found Tim Cahill’s head rising highest of all the United back four.

Hope rather than expectation rippled through the Victorian stadium. Sixty seconds later delirium exuded.

Baines, exploiting time and space afforded him by Gary Neville, floated a cross towards to back post where Cahill headed into the path of the oncoming Arteta. The midfielder thrashed his shot into the net, via Scholes’ deflection. The goal marked not only the most unlikely of comebacks but will no doubt go on to ignite Everton’s season. For Ferguson’s men it was the second time they have thrown away a lead already this season. Keeping their minds on things at hand remains United’s biggest concern.

Graduation Gauntlet

Finishing University is scary time for any graduate. Those who toss their mortar board hats into the air as mother ball's her eye's out, are faced with a number of dilemmas.

Who's going to pay my rent now the loan's have ended? When am I going to see all my student pals again?

From my experience as a student the first shock will be waking up at a hour consisting of one digit. The only reason 'scroungers', as my 9-5 friends label students, would have got up any earlier than 10am in the past three years would have been to watch the demi-god of all undergraduates: Jeremy Kyle.

Armed with a saucepan-sized receptacle of heavily sugared tea, students are gripped by the going's on of urban England. How they ridicule Kyle's guests: unemployed, tax evading so-and-so's dependent on government handouts to fund their vices. Just who do they think they are...

A Jezza detox, however, isn't the most daunting prospect facing alumni. It's not he who is causing students to awake late at night (or early morning) in cold, vodka-infused sweats. It's the very real possibility that these people may need to get jobs. That's right, coupled with a no-longer-valid Top Shop discount, students are expected to earn a living through graft, not grants.

But fear not because I am here to help my fellow peers on the road to forty-five years of employment.

Firstly, you need to pick a job. No more lecturers telling you when and where things need to be done, graduates need to search like everybody else. Assuming that they've got that far and not repeated the hallowed "I'll do it tomorrow" mantra, I'm willing to divulge some of my own tips from past experiences on the next stage of the process: the interview.

Below is a conveniently sized printable guide on how to nail the interview for that perfect job...

• DO arrive early - if an employer was looking for lateness they'd hire a menstruation cycle. Arrive promptly and you'll look interested in the position. This leads me to the next point...

• DO NOT use public transport - not only will you be late you will smell like peas and be left severely traumatised because you sat next to a woman with a beard longer than Jesus'

• DO dress appropriately - but think about it. Why dress in Saville Row threads if your applying for a role at Godfather Fish and Chips (they batter anything)? Also, do not dress smarter than your interviewer. This may require prior surveillance (and if so DO NOT get caught) but it's worth not outsmarting the boss.

• DO ask questions - sensible ones that make you sound interested in the job. I like to use the old "where does the company see itself in 5 years?", but as a graduate you probably wont care as you'll probably be looking for a temporary job to fund your travelling trip. Ask it anyway.

• DO NOT go out on a Girls Aloud-esque bender the night before - you will be as off your game as they are off key.

• DO NOT work with children or animals - they are unpredictable and loud. A bit like a gun.

Although not exhaustive, these tips are tested and ones that I pass onto any graduate willing to enter the big wide-world after years of late night debauchery. Failing this, hit snooze, roll over and enroll on a masters degree.

The Right Stuff

I went to watch a rugby tournament at the weekend near to where I live in what has become an annual pilgrimage. Every year friends and I, as well as the other ten thousand spectators, will one minute be watching Fijian crush some English schoolboys and the next be sharing a hot tub with Gene Simmons from Kiss.

All in all it’s a bizarre weekend and not one that I could compare to a current parliamentary hot potato.

In amongst the skull crushing and debauchery my Blackberry alerted me that David Laws, the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, had resigned. This happened just as a bar girl dropped a tray of lagers all over a group of Amy Winehouse's.

Isolated, these two incidents have no relevance to one another. But as Lager-Gate unfolded in front of me I started to draw parallels between the bar urchin and the departing cabinet minister

.

The girl (who, for the sake of legalities I must say looked at least sixteen years old), despite dropping umpteen pints remained calm and dignified. She managed the situation professionally and apologetically with a bemused smile wiped across her pug-face. I came to the conclusion that, despite this expensive misdemeanour, she remained a perfectly capable bargirl regardless of her butterfingers.

The only thing David Laws had splashed that day was his face over the Telegraph's front page. The paper said that Laws had used £40,000 of taxpayers money to rent a residence from his longterm partner,an act which since 2006 has been banned. Despite Laws' pledge to repay the money he gradually made his way through peak-time London traffic to the Treasury and announced his position had become "untenable".

It later emerged that the Telegraph's expose had not only ousted Laws from his Cabinet position - at 17 days, the shortest Cabinet career in British political history - but had also outed the MP as a homosexual: something he had fought his adult life to keep secret to protect those he loved.

But like the bar girl, was Laws, despite his error, not the right person for his job? Was he not, as Tom Wolfe would say, made of the Right Stuff to assist George Osborne tackling our sovereign deficit?

Laws' rise to the forefront of British politics came after earning a double first in economics at Cambridge and making a fortune in the City at JP Morgan and Barclays de Zoete Wedd. He inherited the safe Liberal Democrat seat of Yeovil, succeeding Paddy Ashdown, and increased his majority in the constituency in 2005.

His rise through the Lib Dem party meant he played a key role in the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition talk and landed the coveted Chief Secretary of the Treasury position he later resign from. Laws' vast economic background made him the ideal partner for Osborne but he now finds himself in political exile and I can't help but feel a little sorry for the man.

The Coalition has lost an amiable politician and a highly capable economist, his reputation is one that far exceeds the sleeze suggested by the recent 'scandal'. I'm not pointing the finger at the Telegraph for they have a right to uncover examples of misconduct such as Laws' misappropriation of expenses, I just think that, like the bar girl, Laws should have been give the opportunity to brush himself off and start again.

Scholes Sends City Crashing

Before Saturday's Manchester-derby The Telegraph's Henry Winter said "if you can't write eleven hundred words about this match you don't deserve to be here".

Quite how he was going to send his editor anything near north of a thousand words must have left him sweating in the Mancunian sun: large periods of this game were devoid of much, if any, quality.

Much of the pre-match focus was, quite rightly, on whether City were at once going to extinguish United's hopes of an unprecedented fourth successive title and reassert themselves as favourites for the coveted fourth spot.

For ninety-two minutes it looked as though they would at least prevent their Salford-based rivals from getting anything out of the match.

But you can never write off champions, least of all Manchester United.

With Chelsea travelling to White Hart Lane in the days evening kick off, United knew that only a win could keep the title hopes burning at Old Trafford. Ferguson had already described the match as the most important derby of his career and the atmosphere at Eastland's stood testament to that.

The opening twenty minutes were as frantic as you'd expect from teams with something to play for. Both started brightly, making early attempts to get into the others' penalty area. A couple of early slips from Nemanja Vidic could have proved costly had City's attackers, namely Emmanuel Adebayor, anticipated the ball.

The first effort came from Darren Fletcher, given the nod, as was Darron Gibson and Paul Scholes, over the underperforming Michael Carrick, whose twenty yard drive crept wide. Scholes, United's perennial servant, also drove wide soon after when his high standards demanded better.

City's only chance of the half fell to Carlos Tevez, whose curling free kick was held onto by a diving Edwin Van De Sar. The Argentinian was his usual vivacious self but was quickly hunted down by United when in possession. In fact this was the tale of an uneventful first half, the only chances of which fell to Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs, both of whom should have at least tested Shay Given.

An over-crowded midfield ensured that neither side were going to carve out chances and as a result City nor United took charge of the game.

The tide changed, ironically, when United swapped the half-fit, inefficient Rooney for United fans' favourite scapegoat Dimitar Berbatov. The striker's flaws have been well publicised but he offers the United forward line something different, if not entirely successful.

His peculiar strength on the ball means he is able to slalom past players, dragging some out of position and when he was introduced with twenty minutes remaining United started to look threatening.

City were now playing for the draw, hopeful they could catch United out on the counter attack and it almost paid dividends. Craig Bellamy shot wide when he should have squared the ball to Carlos Tevez, Patrick Viera could have capitalised on Van Der Sar's fumbled catch and Gareth Barry bizarrely opted to look for a penalty rather than shoot.

Inevitably the decisive blow came in injury time, a weapon that United have used to defeat City twice already this season. Referee Martin Atkinson, who controversially awarded 7 minutes of stoppage time in the reverse fixture in September, indicated 3 minutes were to be added to the full ninety.

As Patrice Evra picked the ball up high in the City half he picked out a wandering Paul Scholes on the penalty spot who planted an unchallenged header low into the bottom right corner. Quite how Scholes, who had dominated the games play, managed to allude City's defenders and tracking midfield revealed a lack of concentration that renders City as outsiders for a Champions League spot.

In one of the defining derbies it was Ferguson who had again silenced his 'noisy neighbours' but it was one of the golden generation who would be writing the headlines.

English Sides Surrender Semi's...For Now

When the quarter and semi final draw was made last month it was widely expected that at least one English side would make it through to the penultimate round.

As the final whistle blew at Old Trafford lasnight, however, none remain.

For the first time since 2003 there will not be an English representative in the Champions League semi final. Football correspondents will no doubt say this mark's the beginning of the descent for the Premier League and that foreign teams have overtaken our own.

The truth is that this week revealed flaws in Arsenal and Manchester United.

Both teams found themselves in uncomfortable positions prior to kick off. Arsene Wenger's men, despite their well earn't draw last week at the Emirates, had to go to the Camp Nou and either win or gain a greater score-draw than their Spanish counterparts had achieved 6 days earlier.

United on the other hand lost 2-1 in the first leg and also suffered a late injury to the scintillating Wayne Rooney. An injury that had cost them dearly against Chelsea at the weekend and rendered him only half fit, but not entirely obselete, for the visit of Bayern Munich.

As it turned out, Arsenal, for all their attacking prowess in the domestic league, were made to look amateur by a slick, superior Barcelona and an Argentinian magician and United gambled away their place in the semi final.

Wenger's team had faced an uphill struggle and were further exacerbated by the injuries to Cesc Fabregas, Andrei Arshavin and William Gallas, neither of whom made the starting XI. This meant that Wenger operated a lone Nicklas Bendtner, hopeful that his midfield would compensate for the lack of strikers.

Wenger's squad though is thin on quality. Tomas Rosicky was woeful and looked fatigued early on, Theo Walcott hasn't re-emerged from his famous night in Zagreb and there remains a lack of quality replacements in defence. This as well as Bendtner's poor consistency.

Wenger has won many plaudits for the way his team play in the domestic league - Pep Guardiola, his European conqueror, has praised Arsenal's style - but become easily bullied against physical teams. The results against Chelsea and then Manchester United this season show that Wenger needs to instill a pragmatism into his squad, one where winning ugly is as much of an art as winning beautifully.

In defence of Arsenal, they were beaten by a Barcelona vintage that could dominate European football. Guardiola's team spread play with such energy and nimbleness it's difficult to see beyond them as victors in Madrid this year.

In contrast, United have won at least two of their three last championships, not to mention a Champions League, through graft and experience.

Ferguson has become increasingly dependent on players like Darren Fletcher and Ji Sung Park for big matches at the expense of a second striker. This emphasises two things: that without Wayne Rooney United lack goalscoring impetus, and their midfield hasn't the combination of flare and determination of yesteryear.

The sending off of Da Silva - for an foul reminiscent of the one he committed on Craig Bellamy in the Carling Cup semi final - also highlighted the risk that inexperience can cause. Ferguson, however, needs to put his faith in youth eventually to replace the diminishing contributions of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville - the last of 'Fergie's Fledglings'.

A smile as wide as The Channel will beam across Michel Platini's face this morning at the prospect of a multi-national final four and perhaps, for the sake of football, this should be something to embrace if not entirely coveted.

But make no mistake, the English will be back.