MORONIC LINESMAN MAKES TITLE TOO CLOSE TO CALL!

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

Well, Chelsea came to Old Trafford on Avram Grant's first game in charge and the Blues fell to pieces. Since then though, well credit where credit's due, against all odds the Blues have become our main title challengers since then. So we had to go to Stamford Bridge to try and finish off their challenge, not like that would be easy, we haven't won there since '02. Could this also be a Champions League final rehearsal? At this point no one cared! Brown right back, Rio and Vidic central defence, Silvestre left back, Carrick, Fletcher, Anderson in midfield and Giggsy(captain) Rooney and Nani up front.

Well we had an injury scare early on but by that point the Blues were already showing us who's house this was. However Fergie was prepared for them and had sent out a defensive minded XI and they were happy to take the heat and try their hand at the odd counter. Neither side looked like breaking through though untill the 45th minute when Didier Drogba crossed to Michael Ballack to give Chelsea the lead.

United started to get our act together in the second half and we still had a fully loaded bench. It turned out that we didn't need it. In the 57th minute Rooney picked up the ball in the Chelsea half, rounded what was left of their defence, and stuck the ball in the net. It was time to kill the game off, the class on the bench was unleashed. It was anyone's game..untill 84th minute at least. Then a linesman told the ref a United player had handballed! The ball hit Carrick's chest! Chelsea fans didn't care though, Ballack scored from the spot. And United never really looked like equalising again.

Well that leaves United still top of the Premiership but now we're level on points with 2nd placed Chelsea though we do have a +16 goal difference advantage. Still, there's two games to go so all bets are now definately off. United still have to slip up though because a goal difference of that size won't be overcome very easilly. A nine month season comes down to just two games.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced Hibs at Pittodrie in the SPL. The Dons had the better attacking play in the first half but neither side was able to hit the net before half time. Dean Shiels then opened the scoring for Hibs which was not what the majority of the Pittodrie crowd had in mind but Mackie and Miller turned the game round and Hibs finished the game with nine men. A solid win for the Reds.

Elsewhere, Dundee United faced Motherwell at Fir Park. Chris Porter opened the scoring for Well only for their defender Stephen Craigan to put the ball in the wrong net before half time. Porter restored the Well lead early in the second half but again the visitors equalised, this time through Lee Wilkie. That leaves the Dons still 6th in the SPL, five points behind Dundee United and a UEFA Cup spot with three games to go.

Back south of the border and down a few levels, Exeter City have had a great finish to the Blue Square Premier season. It started with a 4-1 win over Stafford at St James Park which secured them a playoff place. Then a 4-4 draw with Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium. That gives the Grecians 4th place in the table, their best finish since getting relegated to the fifth tier in '03 and their second appearance in the playoffs in a row. They'll face Torquay with the first leg at St James's Park.

Click here to visit the football archive

Comments get emailed here

Click here to return to sports homepage

Click here to return to Matt G's homepage