Post-season thoughts, hopes, doom, gloom and Welbeck (and Carrick) love
Ten year anniversary for a key, unsung, cog at United
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After five months sitting relatively unchallenged in second place – and I say unchallenged because despite Spurs’s best efforts, it’s not too surprising to see them dropping off – United have returned to the summit of English football with just over a quarter of the season left.
Author: Rob
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To preview Sunday’s game against West Brom, I did a brief interview with Baggies supporter John Rudge. John is very knowledgeable about the club and football in general, has excellent taste in music (i.e. similar to mine), and is one of the world’s foremost cereal connoisseurs. You can find him on Twitter here, very much worth a follow. Manchester United are heavy favourites according to the latest Betfair Football Odds.
West Brom 1-2 Manchester United
New Year, but same old story – that was until Wayne Rooney turned the tables and inspired a twist in both his own form and his clubs fortunes as he seemed to personify change. Chicharito came off the bench to score the winner – just as he did in United’s only other away win of the season – but it was Rooney’s performance and attitude that will be the lasting memory of this game at the Hawthorns.
Another dreaded away fixture. Manchester United have only won once in eight Premier League away fixtures this season, but Saturday’s trip to West Brom will provide yet another opportunity to improve that record. United’s poor away form hasn’t prevented them from starting the New Year atop the Premier League table though. However, if United are to claim a record 19th league title their away form will need to improve. Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates his 69th birthday the day before this game, and the least this squad can do is get him a rare three points away from home as a gift.
Manchester United 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
Letting two goal leads slip has been the story of the season so far for Manchester United, and it was the same old as West Brom took full advantage to get a well deserved point – worse than the result, and worse than it coming against opposition they would normally expect to roll over, was the terrifying lack of urgency that followed the 70th minute. Javier Hernandez and Nani scored United’s goals, before Somen Tchoyi took full advantage of a howler from van der Sar to equalise after Patrice Evra had diverted a free kick into his own net.
After four away games in a row (all competitions), United return to Old Trafford for the first time in nearly a month. West Brom are the visitors after an international break that seemed to last forever. Incredibly should West Brom win, they will go above United…let’s not even consider that…
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A stunning display from the injury hit champions rocked West Bromwich Albion and kept United at the top of the Premier League.
Goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez, Nemanja Vidic (though this later seemed to be an own goal), then two from Cristiano Ronaldo sent out a clear message of superiority.
Albion had stated their intent to at least show adventure in the game but an end to end start was punished when Berbatov picked up a Giggs pass and exchanged the ball with the excellent Michael Carrick to slot home and complete a great move.
The home side suffered just before half time as skipper Paul Robinson was dismissed for a dangerous lunge on Ji-Sung Park. The red card may have been harsh but it was reckless claim by the Baggies’ captain and he could have no real complaints. Moments later, the Red Devils compounded the home supporters misery when Scott Carson bizarrely dropped a Ryan Giggs freekick, perhaps looking for a free kick when challenged by his own defender, and the impressive Carlos Tevez tapped in.
In the second half United really rammed home the advantage and scored when the outstanding Giggs’ set piece was met by Vidic, though replays suggested a home defender may have had the crucial touch in scoring the third United goal.
Better was to follow from United and the mercurial Giggs as the Welshman found space and exquisitely pulled back for Ronaldo to end a personal hell and score a league goal. The scoring was completed a few minutes later when Berbatov played Ronaldo through to finish between Carson‘s legs.
As the match entered its final minutes United claimed another milestone – a Premier League record without conceding a league goal – and with the re-inforcement of the returning Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand, the record stands a good chance of extending itself even considering the visit of in form Everton on Saturday.
Source:(Yolkie)
