A scintillating display of attacking football ensured United's biggest away win of the season on a night when the Reds set a new defensive record of eleven clean sheets. Goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez, Nemanja Vidic and a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a 5-0 victory over West Brom at The Hawthorns , who had their skipper Paul Robinson sent-off just before half-time.
At the other end, Edwin van der Sar kept his eleventh consecutive clean sheet to break Chelsea’s 2004/05 Premier League record and help the Reds move three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table.
28 January 2009
Utd 2 Tottenham 1
United’s quest for five major trophies continues apace in spite of a crippling injury list, as the Reds beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round. Harry Redknapp’s men took a surprise early lead through Roman Pavlyuchenko, but United’s first half display was otherwise outstanding as goals from Paul Scholes (albeit via a wicked deflection off Tom Huddlestone) and Dimitar Berbatov against his former club secured the win.
United will face either Forest or Derby away in the next round.
United will face either Forest or Derby away in the next round.
22 January 2009
Utd 4 Derby 2
Sir Alex Ferguson booked an impressive 14th domestic final appearance as Manchester United overhauled a first-leg deficit to ease into the Carling Cup showpiece at Wembley on March 1. Nani opened United's account, with John O'Shea and Carlos Tevez increasing the lead before half-time, and Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty ensured a Giles Barnes double did no lasting damage.
But the real price of a likely meeting with Tottenham will be assessed in the treatment room as injuries picked up by Rafael and Jonny Evans - part of an already depleted defence - and Nani and Anderson, who departed on a stretcher after the final whistle, are looked at.
But the real price of a likely meeting with Tottenham will be assessed in the treatment room as injuries picked up by Rafael and Jonny Evans - part of an already depleted defence - and Nani and Anderson, who departed on a stretcher after the final whistle, are looked at.
20 January 2009
Bolton 0 Utd 1
Dimitar Berbatov's last-minute header earned Manchester United a 1-0 win at Bolton and sent his side to the Premier League summit for the first time this season.
Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen looked like denying the Red Devils with a superb individual display. But, after repelling three ferocious Cristiano Ronaldo free-kicks, Jaaskelainen was eventually beaten as Carlos Tevez wriggled free of the Trotters defence to cross for Berbatov, who powered home a six-yard header.
Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen looked like denying the Red Devils with a superb individual display. But, after repelling three ferocious Cristiano Ronaldo free-kicks, Jaaskelainen was eventually beaten as Carlos Tevez wriggled free of the Trotters defence to cross for Berbatov, who powered home a six-yard header.
17 January 2009
Manucho joins Hull City on loan
Hull have struck a deal to sign United striker Manucho on loan for the rest of the season. The Angolan frontman has made one Barclays Premier League appearance for United, who let him spend part of last season on loan at Panathinaikos.
Hull have not yet secured a work permit for the 25-year-old but hope they will be able to achieve that before Saturday's match against Arsenal.
Hull have not yet secured a work permit for the 25-year-old but hope they will be able to achieve that before Saturday's match against Arsenal.
Utd 1 Wigan 0
Defence continues to be the best form of attack for United as a ninth successive Premier League clean sheet allowed them to move within two points of leaders Liverpool. Wayne Rooney's first-minute tap-in was enough to beat Wigan, who just about edged the remainder of the contest without being able to break down a stubborn United rearguard which is providing the foundation for this season's title tilt.
There was a cost to the Red Devils as Rooney is now facing a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury that forced him off not long after his ninth goal of the season.
There was a cost to the Red Devils as Rooney is now facing a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury that forced him off not long after his ninth goal of the season.
United 3 Chelsea 0
It has certainly been one of those crazy weeks at United that crop up so often. Kicked off by the roller coaster Carlos Tevez contract saga row, the Reds abject display at Derby that cost them a Carling Cup semi final first leg advantage, Ronaldo's miraculous car crash escape and then the left field arrival of Rafa Benitez's spiky tirade at Sir Alex Ferguson. All that had had little to do with this showdown.
Fergie and Scolari hadn't seriously been able to drum up anymore drama in their press conferences but after what had gone on surrounding the Reds this week it would have been overload had they joined in and pumped up the build-up even more. But after that kind of relentless back-page and front page hogging events to this first tumultuous set-to of 2009 could the fare match the headline-hitting lead up events? Would it be Wembley `07 or Luzhniki Stadium `08. It fell between the two stools really. The classic immovable object being United's Old Trafford fortress and the irresistible force being Chelsea's outstanding away form this was always going to be tough to catalogue among the truly memorable encounters.
It was all too bitty, niggly and devoid of edge of your seat penalty box action to gatecrash the file of unforgettable matches. Inevitably there is always controversy attached to all these box office match ups. Fortunately, the linesman's first half injury time cock up didn't grab the headlines. Referee Howard Webb's assistant failed to see or acknowledge that Wayne Rooney had tapped a corner kick into play. Ryan Giggs ran over to the rolling ball, appeared to ask his colleague along the way if he'd played it, and then crossed the ball for Ronaldo to head home. Rooney was furious that his piece of ingenuity to catch Chelsea on the hop was missed by the officials and the goal was wiped out.
A Giggs corner seconds later converted by Nemanja Vidic via a Berbatov headed flick meant the ruled out goal was effectively demoted as a match highlight topic. Considering these two are Fergie's predicted pairing to ultimately be contesting the title in spring neither has actually proved their top match pedigree against other members of the Big Four this campaign. However, once United had got their nose in front there was only ever going to be one side who would register their first win in such battles. The Reds were rampant once they had chiseled out the Vidic advantage and a move worthy of the occasion in the 63rd minute cemented their supremacy. Ronaldo's back heel was swept across by Patrice Evra and Rooney stole in ahead of Ashley Cole to strike home.
United were so far ahead of their rivals that a 2-0 scoreline wouldn't have recorded their grip on this game but when Dimitar Berbatov snapped out of his slumber in the 87th minute to convert Ronaldo's free kick with a superb sidefoot volley it became a true reflection on a United display.
Fergie and Scolari hadn't seriously been able to drum up anymore drama in their press conferences but after what had gone on surrounding the Reds this week it would have been overload had they joined in and pumped up the build-up even more. But after that kind of relentless back-page and front page hogging events to this first tumultuous set-to of 2009 could the fare match the headline-hitting lead up events? Would it be Wembley `07 or Luzhniki Stadium `08. It fell between the two stools really. The classic immovable object being United's Old Trafford fortress and the irresistible force being Chelsea's outstanding away form this was always going to be tough to catalogue among the truly memorable encounters.
It was all too bitty, niggly and devoid of edge of your seat penalty box action to gatecrash the file of unforgettable matches. Inevitably there is always controversy attached to all these box office match ups. Fortunately, the linesman's first half injury time cock up didn't grab the headlines. Referee Howard Webb's assistant failed to see or acknowledge that Wayne Rooney had tapped a corner kick into play. Ryan Giggs ran over to the rolling ball, appeared to ask his colleague along the way if he'd played it, and then crossed the ball for Ronaldo to head home. Rooney was furious that his piece of ingenuity to catch Chelsea on the hop was missed by the officials and the goal was wiped out.
A Giggs corner seconds later converted by Nemanja Vidic via a Berbatov headed flick meant the ruled out goal was effectively demoted as a match highlight topic. Considering these two are Fergie's predicted pairing to ultimately be contesting the title in spring neither has actually proved their top match pedigree against other members of the Big Four this campaign. However, once United had got their nose in front there was only ever going to be one side who would register their first win in such battles. The Reds were rampant once they had chiseled out the Vidic advantage and a move worthy of the occasion in the 63rd minute cemented their supremacy. Ronaldo's back heel was swept across by Patrice Evra and Rooney stole in ahead of Ashley Cole to strike home.
United were so far ahead of their rivals that a 2-0 scoreline wouldn't have recorded their grip on this game but when Dimitar Berbatov snapped out of his slumber in the 87th minute to convert Ronaldo's free kick with a superb sidefoot volley it became a true reflection on a United display.
Derby County 1 Utd 0
With Derby’s in-your-face tactics the Reds struggled to impose themselves. It left young Danny Welbeck up front facing a tough task even with United’s Carling Cup talisman Carlos Tevez, shrugging off all the pre-match contract controversy to get the nod from Fergie, as his partner. There were none of the easy titbits provided by Dimitar Berbatov on the south coast four days earlier.
Derby persistence in piling pressure on United’s increasingly nervy side paid off after 30 minutes when Kris Commons enjoyed a ridiculous amount of space to line up and then crash in the opener from 25 yards.
Derby persistence in piling pressure on United’s increasingly nervy side paid off after 30 minutes when Kris Commons enjoyed a ridiculous amount of space to line up and then crash in the opener from 25 yards.
05 January 2009
Southampton 0 United 3
UNITED eased into the FA Cup fourth round with an emphatic victory at St Mary's. Youngsters Danny Wellbeck and Darron Gibson scored either side of a Nani penalty as the Reds set up a fourth round clash at home to Tottenham.
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