UNITED KEEP RISING

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

 

It's the first time West Brom have been in the Premiership since the 05/06 season. Back then, former United and Baggies legend Bryan Robson was the manager. Unfortunately for Brom he didn't do a particularly good job that season. We only needed to turn up at Old Trafford to beat them 3-0 that season and though they did slightly better at the Hawthorns, we were still able to wrap up a 2-1 win pretty smoothly with Louis Saha getting both our goals. As far as our former 'Captain Marvel' was concerned, that was pretty much typical in terms of results for his team that season, they'd had a decent run in the Premiership but it was time for their party to end.

Now though, they're back, this time with Tony Mowbray, Celtic player from the 90s in charge. And credit where credit's due they weren't doing too badly, United may have been ahead of them but they were still hanging around at the top of the table and look like they might avoid a relegation battle already. However that still makes a trip to Old Trafford a tough prospect for a team like the Baggies, particularly with United still needing to gobble up points after our dodgy start to the season. Rafael started at right back for us, Flether and Giggsy in central midfield with Park at left mid. A solid enough team to secure a win with assuming no hangover from the international break.

United actually hit the net early on but the ref disallowed the goal for supposed pushing - yeah right! After that though it really felt like it was a United demo session, the Baggies had hardly any attacks worthy of the name. All the Baggies were interested in doing was soaking up United and as annoying as that was, it was at least succsessful. Given that West Brom have had some good results though, it's certainly a surprise that they chose to adopt smothering tactics though. They got one shot on goal in the entire first half and though the feeling was that sooner or later United were going to go one up, at half time Scott Carson's goal still officially held firm.

In the second half, United picked up where they left off and though the visitors held on for a bit longer, United broke in the 56th minute and Rooney ran on to a Berbatov pass, then into the box and 1-0 United at last. Rooney then set up Ronaldo in the 69th minute to put United 2-0 up and tearing the opposition apart at will. Enter Nani who sent over a 71st minute corner that West Brom couldn't handle, it found Berbatov and that looked to be pretty much that. The Baggies tried their hand at getting what would have been a consolation goal but it was nothing we couldn't handle. Anyway, we still had the last word when Rooney set up Nani in the 89th minute. Another one bites the dust.

Wlsewhere, Villa faced Portsmouth at Villa Park. It was Portsmouth that had the better of the first half with Villa looking pretty lifeless but Pompey's attackers couldn't find their range either, their efforts were nothing the Villa goalie couldn't handle. Villa made more of a match of it in the second half but given that the two highlights of the match were a coin from a Villa fan hitting one of the officials and Portsmouth's Sean David getting sent off after two yellows, this match won't go down as a clasic. The result did help United though, allowing us to move up to 5th in the Premiership which puts us on course for a UEFA Cup spot. We're still level on points with Villa and a season with out European footbal but with a +6 goal difference advantage and just two points behind Arsenal and a Champions League spot with a game in hand.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced Falkirk at Falkirk Park in the SPL. Falkirk had the firsat attack of note and went on to actually hit the net only for the goal to be disallowed for a foul. The Dons on the other hand weren't really able to get going before half time. The second half was much better though and Lee Miller gave the Reds a much needed lead. After that the Dons were much the better side and Falkirk wound up ending the game with ten men! The Bairns weren't going to come back from that and if evwer the Dons needed a win it was this weekend. They managed to pick up three points for the first time in over a month, let's hope it's not that long before the next win.

Other than that, there were no other games that the Dons really needed to be made aware of. The win is enough to put them up to 10th in the SPL, three points ahead of Falkirk and relegation and now only a point behind Dundee United and the top half of the table, even if the Tangerines to have a game in hand due to the team being allowed a day off after their chairman Eddie Thompson died of cabcer earlier in the week, rest in peace. From an Aberbeen perspective, well the fact that the lower half of the table is so tight means that there's hope for the Reds yet but it is high time that they find some form, right now it's hard to imagine that this is the team that took a UEFA Cup group by storm.

Next up, we have a Champions League rumble.

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