SPURS BITE THE DUST AGAIN

 

Last time around we faced Spurs relatively early on in the season. First up we beat them 3-1 at White Hart Lane. Harry Redknapp's crew opened the scoring early on but the Reds still turned the game round before half time and though we finished with ten men it was mission accomplished. Then Spurs came to Old Trafford and we beat them 3-1 again. That time around, two of our goals came from the penalty spot - bottom line, another three points. Those two wins couldn't quite give us the title though and being beaten by us twice didn't stop Spurs from reaching the Champions League as we currently know it for the first time.

This time around, well United are only just starting to find the higher gears and Spurs were looking good for another strong Premiership campaign. So we were certainly not expecting this Premiership match at Old Trafford to be a walkover but then again, Spurs hadn't won at our place since the early 90s! In the meantime the squad was pretty much returning to business as usual, barring injuries. We went 4-4-2. Van de Saar in goal, Rafael right back, Rio and Vidic central defence, Evra left back. Nani right mid, Carrick and Fletcher centre mid, Berbatov and Hernandez up front. Time for us to get another step closer to the top of the league.

Well United didn't hang around in going on the attack and Spurs dodged a bullet very early on. Spurs had no intention of white flagging though and their attackers, as always had their uses but we kept them out. In short both sides were going all guns blazing and it was only going to be a matter of time till someone scored. The breakthrough came for United, Nani firing in a 31st minute free kick for Vidic to head home. Spurs had their chances to get an equaliser before half but the Reds could also have made it two. Bottom line, a very smooth performance from the Reds and the hope was that we'd got the early season bugs out of our system.

United picked up from where they left off in the second half, forcing Spurs to dodge more bullets. However Spurs were still in the mood to fight back with them zinging one shot past our goal and then we had to deflect a Roman Pavluchenko effort away for a corner - this game wasn't over yet. Subs came on for both sides and the game looked to be cruising to a halt...untill what has to be the craziest(and arguably luckiest) United goal I can remember. Spurs thought that they'd been given an 84th minute free kick for a handball in their box. The ref had other ideas though and the Spurs goalie wasn't able to kick the ball one inch before Nani intercepted it and slotted it in! Game over, we won.

Elsewhere, Chelsea beat Blackburn 2-1 at Ewood Park. Rovers opened the scoring but the Blues equalised before half time though it wasn't untill late in the second half that the Blues were able to grab a winner in what was a pretty even game. Man City lost 2-1 to Wolves at Molineux with the Blues opening the scoring only for the home side to hit a goal each either side of half time. All together now: "Blue Moon, you started singing much too soon...". So, that allowed United to remain 3rd in the Premiership and on course for the Champions League group stages, five points behind leaders Chelsea and three points ahead of Man City and a detor through the Champions League preliminaries.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced St Mirren at St Mirren Park in the SPL. Marc McAusland opened the scoring for the home side during a first half in which that goal was the only significant even of the period - first time I've known that happen! The Dons equalised after half time thanks to Rory McArdle's first SPL goal! After a while it looked as though the match was cruising to a halt with both sides claiming a point a piece but in the end the Dons went home empty handed after a late St Mirren winner thanks to Jure Travner. Needless to say, Mark McGhee was very annoyed! Just when it looked as though the Dons were getting their act together, they go and do this!

Elsewhere, Dundee United faced Hibs at Tannadice Park. There looked to be only one side really in it in the first half and that was the Tangerines. However that didn't mean that they were able to hit the net before half time. They looked to pick up where they left off in the second half but would have been mugged had Hibs been able to slot a penalty. The home side got it right in the end though, David Goodwillie hitting a late winner. That allowed Aberdeen to remain 8th in the SPL, but four points behind Dundee United and the top half of the table, and only two points ahead of St Mirren and relegation. Things could yet get ugly.

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