BORO SUCKER UNITED TO GRAB REPLAY

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

 

Back in '05 the FA Cup quarter finals took us to St Mary's Stadium where we faced Southampton, in what was then an all-Premiership tie. Well we took the Saints to the cleaners on that day. Roy Keane opened the scoring early on and Ronaldo made it two just before half time. Scholesy then hit the net early on in the second half to give the home side a mountain to climb before hitting United's fourth late on to see us through to what was our second semi final in a row.

This year, we're up against Middlesborough, who we've already beaten 2-1 at the Riverside in the Premiership this season. As far as the FA Cup's concerned, the last time we faced them was earlier on in the 04/05 campaign, beating them 3-0 at Old Trafford in a pretty straightforward 4th round tie. As far as Boro in the quarters are concerned, well Wilf McGuiness was the manager though Charlton, Law and Best were still the stars(even if Georgie was beginning to lose the plot). The year was 1970 and this fading generation did get a 1-1 at Boro's old Ayresome Park ground before winning the replay 2-1 at Old Trafford.

So we hit the Riverside with everyone knowing that you can never count Boro out at their place. Fergie returned United to our regular 4-4-2 formation with Kuszczak in goal, Carrick and O'Shea in central midfield with Scholsey injured at the last minute, Giggsy at left mid and Rooney and Larsson up front. With Van de Saar injured that left United with no goalies on the subs bench, always a gamble. Our strongest FA Cup team yet this season.

Well despite that it was Boro that opened up on the attack but having survived the opening minutes United then took over for what has to be performance wise the best half I've seen for a while, Boro were being kept prisoner in their own half and in the 23rd minute Giggsy surged through their defence before sliding it to Rooney. 1-0. After which United kept hammering the home side but Boro did have the odd counter and one of them led to a Stewart Downing cross in the 43rd minute finding Lee Catermole who turned and shoved it in the net.

And after time things went from bad to worse when George Boateng escaped the crowd to head in a 47th minute Boro corner. Even after that, United didn't really show their first half form and the game evened out to a degree. In the 68th minute we got a bit of luck(then again we should have at least one pen earlier on in the game) when the ref gave an iffy handball decision involving Boateng. Ronaldo was ice cool from the spot. After which it was end to end, could have been anyone's game, and it turned out to be no ones. We did not really need another replay.

Elsewhere, Chelsea drew 3-3 with Spurs at Stamford Bridge, the Blues surviving to gain a replay at White Hart Lane by the skin of their teeth. Blackburn beat Man City 2-0 at Ewood Park which is good news for Mark Hughes while Plymouth, the last remaining non-Premiership side in the competition, got beaten 1-0 by Watford at Home Park. So that now leaves us with an all-Premiership semi final lineup whatever happens in the replays.

As for the semis, well first United have to deal with Middlesborough in the quarter final replay at Old Trafford. It'll be the first time we'll have faced Boro at home this season and we should be able to beat them. Do that and we face Watford in the semis on neutral territory. Given that I half-expected the Hornets to get beaten by Plymouth in the quarters and we trashed them when they came to Old Trafford, that draw gives us a very nice route to the final.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced Hearts in an SPL game at Pittodrie. Steve Lovell opened the scoring early doors for the Dons and in the immediate aftermath, the visitors didn't really look like they knew what to do about it. Scratch that, they never looked like getting an equaliser full stop, though they had the odd chance. A crucial win for the Reds which should secure them a place in Europe, taking advantage of an offday from their close rivals.

Elsewhere, Hibs beat Falkirk 2-0 at Easter Road to keep up some form of challenge for a UEFA Cup spot though the big match of the weekend in Scotland was always going to be the Old Firm game between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park. Credit to the Gers for managing to put the brakes on the Celtic title wagon with a 1-0 win. That leaves the Dons still in third place in the SPL, seven points behind Rangers and the Champions League places and eight points ahead of Hibs and the non-Europe places. And still with a game in hand.

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