NO COMFORT FOR UNITED

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

 

Last season, Bolton were gaffered by Sam Allardyce, who then probably panicked after the infamous Panorama documentary about transfer bungs and quit the club just before the end of the season! Still, the club made it into the UEFA Cup though they didn't earn any of that succsess against us! We hammered them 4-0 at the Reebok Stadium then 4-1 at Old Trafford. Useful given that on both occassions we faced Wanderers needing the wins.

This time round, well Sammy Lee started the season as Bolton manager but got booted after Wanderers made a hopeless start and now Gary Megson, a gaffer who's been alll over the place is in charge. Wanderers are doing pretty well in Europe but still in the bottom half of the Premiership table so this visit to the Reebok stadium looked like a straightforward three points. Rio back in central defence alongside Pique, Carrick and Hargreves centre mid.

Well the match looked to be even in the early stages but a defensive messup from United left us with a lot to do in the 11th minute. Nicolas Anelka picked up the ball and sent it into the United net! In the meantime, attacking wise we were nowhere, the home side happy to soak us up and the biggest issue during the first half turned out to be Bolton's rough play. Needless to say, Fergie was not happy with the ref at half time, United had no reason to be happy in general.

Fergie's unhappiness got him sent to the stands but that didn't help United's performance much. We wound up playing at Bolton's level which turned out to be a bit like wrestling the cliched pig in mud and the pig was better at it! Subs were made, but they didn't improve matters either. We stepped up 'a' gear late on and could have got a penalty in the back end of the match after a Nani shot came off a Bolton defender's arm but nothing happened. Not a match to remember.

Elsewhere, Arsenal beat Wigan 2-0 in the Emirates Stadium despite the visitors defence continually getting in the Gunners way for most of the match. City then beat Reading 2-1 at the City of Manchester Stadium, with City only managing to win the match in the very last minute much to Sven's relief. That leaves United still in second in the Premiership but now three points behind Arsenal who still have a game in hand while City close in to one point behind us in the Champions League preliminary zone.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced Celtic in the SPL at Celtic Park. Jan Venegoor of Hessilink opened the scoring for the Celts and Aiden McGeady made it two. Scot McDonald completed the hammering early in the second half. The Dons never really got going, the had the odd chances in the first half but once the home side went three up they never looked like coming back. A late shot from the Dons came to nothing and the Dons went home outclassed.

Elsewhere, Hearts faced Gretna at Raydale Park. Hearts spent the bulk of the game playing with ten min after a sending off but still opened the scoring thanks to Layea Kingston. However a late Kingston own goal levelled the match and though Hearts had the edge in the match, they were uable to regain the lead. That leaves the Dons 7th in the SPL, one point behind Hearts and the top half of the table though thirteen points ahead of Gretna and relegation.

Now to tidy up Champions League business.

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