UNITED HIT THE BUFFERS

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

Last time around, United wound up having to bow down to Chelsea, twice. First up, the Reds were beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Then came a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford with a weakened United looking particulaly spineless at that point. Inevitably, the Blues won the title on that occasion. The last time we beat the Blues in the Premiership was in 08/09 when Felipe Scolari was the Blues gaffer and his crew fell to bits at Old Trafford, United winning 3-0. Amazingly though United have still never done the league double over Chelsea in the Premiership era. The last time we did so was in the 1987/88 season with first John Hollins then Bobby Campbell as Chelsea gaffer. We beat them 3-1 at Old Trafford then 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the old First Division. Brian McClair, Gordon Strachen, Norman Whiteside, Steve Bruce and an Irishman called Liam O'Brien were in the goals for us in those games.

This time around, well the two sides have taken a while to lock horns as thee first scheduled match between the two sides was called off due to snow. In the meantime United have surged to the top of the league and Chelsea, while mathematically weren't out of it going into this Premiership match at Stamford Bridge were in the process of self destructing and on course to miss out on the Champions League! So you'd have thought this game would be relatively straightforward for the Reds. Also for the first time since '08, Fergie fielded an unchanged starting lineup. What would have been a "Grand Slam" matchup last season was now to be an excercise in kicking the reigning champions when they were down. At least that was the gameplan.

Well in the early stages of the match, the Blues certainly looked to have their uses and they certainly meant that once again, our defence and goalie were kept busy but again they showed their class. United's efforts at the other end were not so special though...that was untill the 29th minute though when Nani set up Rooney who spun his way through the Chelsea defence before firing a low shot into the net. An awesome goalkeeping display at the other end kept United in the game though and we came in at half time halfway to breaking one of our longest Premiership hoodoos. Solid enough work so far - now we just had to wrap up the win in the second half.

Slight problem, the Blues had other ideas. In the 51st minute Michael Essien crossed to David Luiz, allowed the Brazilian defender to grab his first goal for the Blues. After that, the game was very much up for grabs with both sides blowing seemingly certain chances. United's players weren't in a particularly good mood with the ref either, and then said individual gave the home side a 79th minute penalty which Frank Lampard slotted. United didn't really look like coming back from that one, and going down to ten men in the last seconds was something else we could have done without. It was gutting, and dare I say it embarassing.

So, that leaves United still top of the Premiership, four points ahead of nearest challengers Arsenal but now the Gunners have a game in hand. Suddenly, United's title run in doesn't look anywhere near as straightforward as it did. Arsenal have their game in hand and we have yet to go to their place on Premiership business. Work it out. At the start of the new year, United looked like the only team that knew how to win a title. Do Arsenal now look like credible challengers? Yes - at the very least we've certainly given them a great window of opportunity. However Arsene Wenger's crew are still the team that has forgotten how to win a trophy - if any side can slip up it is surely them. United fans can't afford to count chickens though.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced St Johnstone at McDiamid Park in the SPL. The Dons certainly had the edge in the first half for what it was worth though weren't able to do much with it and the first half ended goalless. In the second half it was Langfield's turn to face the fire and he managed to deal with that very well. However an awesome display of goalkeeping at both ends resulted in an inevitable deadlock that neither side was satisfied with. Craig Brown's bigger concern was that he felt the game had in theory been there for the taking but in the end he felt his guys had performed poorly and were lucky to get out with a point.

Elsewhere, Inverness were beaten 2-0 by Dundee United at the Caledonian Stadium with the Tangerines not looking that brilliant in the first half before turning it on to hit the net twice in the closing stages for what is for them a massive win. Hamilton lost 2-1 to Hibs at New Douglas Park with the visitors wrapping up the game with goals either side of half time. The Accies pulled one back in the dying stages of the contest but it was too little too late. That means that Aberdeen remain 8th in the SPL, three points behind Dundee United(and the Tangerines have three games in hand)and the top half of the table but sixteen points clear of Hamilton and relegation(though the Accies have a game in hand).

Back south of the border, a couple of postponed(due to a backlog caused by European commitments) FA Cup 5th round matched were also taking place and a couple more Premiership sides bit the dust. Everton were beaten 1-0 by Championship Reading at Goodison Park to become the latest Premiership side to get mugged in the competition. Then in an all-Premiership encounter Man City beat Villa 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium with the Blues having cruised to a two goal lead by half time. That left us with seven Premiership teams still left with a claim to a spot in the FA Cup quarter finals. So far it's been fairly smooth sailing for the top flight sides, most underdog dreams have died already.

There was one FA Cup 5th round replay to deal with though between Arsenal(first time in the FA Cup 5th round since 08/09) and L1 Leyton Orient(first appearance in the FA Cup 5th round since 1981/82!) at the Emirates Stadium. Maraouane Chamakh opened the scoring for the Premiership side, Nicolas Bendtner then grabbing two goals before half time and completing his hat-trick after the interval. Gael Clichy finished the underdogs off. Congratulations to Arsenal who continue to follow in the footsteps of their counterparts from 08/09 in reaching the quarter finals of the competition with their fans surely hoping they can keep going a bit longer.

(Image taken from Sky Sports)

So, the FA Cup quarter final lineup is complete and United will face Arsenal in an all-Premiership rumble at Old Trafford. If league positions are anything to go by this is a virtual final. If competition history is anything to go by, this is a heavyweight contest in that sense as well. The two sides have faced each other in multiple FA Cup finals, most recently in '05. As for this year's rumble well United can never take Arsene Wenger's crew for ganted but we certainly have the upper hand. We have already beaten the Gunners on our turf in the Premiership so what's stopping us from doing the same this time around. United to make the semis.

Back north of the border, and Celtic(fifth Scottish Cup fifth round appearance in a row)faced Rangers(fourth Scottish Cup fifth round appearance in a row)in an all-SPL Scottish Cup fifth round replay at Celtic Park. Well the Old Firm rivalry is known to be fiery at the best of times but this was one of the uglier battles between the two sides, with the Gers going down to ten men before half time. Mark Wilson went on to hit the winner for the Celts and the Blues were left to finish the game with nine men. The Celts face Inverness CT at the Caledonian Stadium in another all-SPL tie in the quarter finals as one of seven top flight teams left in the competition.

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