NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

 

(Image taken from Sky Sports)

 

United have never faced Reading in the Premiership before...possibly due to the fact that last season's Championship champions had never played in English football's top flight prior to this season. The only competitive match between the two sides that I can remember was in the 95/96 FA Cup 4th round at the underdog's Elm Park. United won 4-1 and though a Red Devil ventriloquist/telekinesist/whatever tried to claim credit for the win, I expect a side that included Schmeichal, Cantona and a young David Beckham might have had something to do with it.

Round about 95/96 was probably the last time Paul Scholes played upfront for United but that's where he was found in the line up at Reading's new ground, the Madjeski stadium, alongside Rooney. Further back, Heinze made his 06/07 debut at left back with Vidic alongside Rio in cental defence. Carrick and Fletcher in central midfield and Richardson at left mid, and thankfully van de Saar was back in goal. Reading can't complain about their form so far but we seriously needed this to be an easy win before returning to Champions League action.

Well we ceratainly had the first attack but it wasn't long before I got a reminder that it's been over a year since Reading have lost at home and that certainly had no plans to do so against us! Having said that the Reds had enough chances to hit the Reading net so going into half time at 0-0 was not what I had in mind and Steve Coppell would surely have been the happier of the two gaffers in the dressing room, I was simply hoping for a better second half.

Well that plan got scrapped in the 48th minute. The ref claimed that Neville had handballed(er...no) and Kevin Doyle, a United fan as a kid, decided to do his professional duty and not sky the resulting penalty. Cue United banging harder and harder on the door. Eventually a side lilke Reading are going to crack and in the 73rd minute they got their defence eaten by Ronaldo who then slammed the ball inside the far post! United certainly know how to do comebacks. Unfortunately Reading also turned out to be good at survival. Giigsy and Park still injured? Maybe, but I'm hoping this isn't deja vu I'm feeling.

Elsewhere, well Portsmouth wound up losing 1-0 to Bolton at Fratton Park, so Pompey took more damage this weekend than we did, slipping from first to third with Chelsea going in the other direction after a 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. So United remain in second, two points behind the Cocky One's crew while level on points and goal difference with Portsmouth but having scored three more goals than them.

North of the border and Aberdeen remain in fourth place in the SPL but given that only goal difference separates them from fifth placed Killmarnock they're lucky to have not fallen out of the European placings after a 3-1 defeat to Hearts at Pittodrie! The Dons proved a solid match for the title chasing Edinburgh side but in the second half Christophe Berra, Mauricio Pinilla and Saulius Mikoliunas all hit the net. Game over, baring a Daal consolation.

Elsewhere, there was an Old Firm derby going on. Celtic won this one at Celtic Park, beating Rangers 2-0 to keep themselves three points ahead of Hearts at the top of the SPL.

Back south of the border, Brentford are officially out of the Carling Cup after getting battered 3-0 by Championship side Luton at Griffin Park, The match finished 10 a side with Dean Morgan, Wayne Feeney and Rowan Vine scoring the goals that sealed the Bees' fate early in the competition. Now it's United's turn though and they're headed to the Alexandria Stadium for a third round meeting with Crewe. Not sure how seriously Fergie will be taking the trophy's defence, I expect that'll be a reserves match.

And returning north of the border quickly, there was also Cup action north of the border with round 3 of the CIS Insurance Cup. The only real upset at this stage was D1 St Johnstone beating SPL Dundee United 3-0 at McDiarmid Park with goals from Jason Scotland, Steven Milne and Simon Mensing. The Saints are the only non-SPL side still standing, the quarter finals are completed by Celtic, Kilmarnock, Falkirk, Hearts, Rangers, Hibs and Motherwell.

Back to Champions League action next week.

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