NIGHTMARE BEFORE HALLOWEEN

 

(Image taken from ManUtd.com)

 

OK...well the Middlesborough vs United match was on pay per view...slight problem, Matt G the Moron was spending the afternoon tracking down some bits and pieces to refine other parts of this site and had to be reminded about this match, wound up heading down a local pub with CDs playing in the background to watch it after I wasn't able to get at it on PPV at home. Why bother telling you this? Well...I've got an apology to make to all United fans, I think I may have jinxed Fergie's boys.

Well that's the best explanation I can think of for the absolute disaster that happened on the Riverside. Even with Keane, Neville and Giggs injured, The Red Devils were pretty much zombie like in the first half, Boro were having a training clinic. I can't remember the last time I've seen a more depressing display. Mendieta had already opened the scoring for Steve McLaren's crew in the 2nd minute by the time I arrived at the pub. Hasselbank made it two in the 25th and Yakubu made it three with a penalty just before half time.

The good news in the second half was that in terms of display, it didn't really get much worse. United came out looking like they might be interested in pulling back the three goal deficit. Could any of them put the ball in the net...not before Mendieta made in four at least, though finally Ronaldo pulled one back in injury time but talk about too little too late. That puts us in sixth.

Oh, for the record, United(probably our reserves) are going to go up against West Brom at Old Trafford in the 4th round of the Carling Cup. Can't see Bryan Robson doing Fergie any favours in that one but we'll see what happens.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, Chelsea were back to their usual swaggering selves, busting Blackburn 4-2. Spurs and Arsenal drew 1-1 but the freakiest result(or series of them) have come from just promoted Wigan. A 1-0 win over Fulham put them in second place in the Premiership. That's the sort of stuff usually limited to football manager games. I don't know how I wound up in the reality but could someone tell me how to get back please.

North of the border, Aberdeen headed to Kilmarnock and took the lead thanks to a Russell Anderson opener in the 15th minute...and Kille then went on to trash the Dons 4-2, Stevie Crawford giving the Reds a late consolation goal. That puts the Dons in seventh.

In the meantime, Hearts looked like they might be starting to run out of fuel after they lost an Edinburgh derby 2-0 to Hibs at Easter Road. Celtic took advantage of that by beating Dunfirmline 3-2 away with Chris Sutton hitting both nets. That result leaves the two sides evens on points with Celtic now on top of the Scottish Premiership.

And next it's back to Champions League action, I hope Fergie gives the boys a sufficient roasting before Wednesday.

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