UNITED STUMBLE AGAIN

 

 

It had not been a particularly good season for United so far. Though we were going strong in the Champions League and still standing in the Carling Cup, we had yet to hit the top Premiership top four and it was coming up to late October. Nemanja Vidic had been talking about early season fears that United could get relegated. Well that looks less likely to happen but as it is, we'll be doing well to get into the title mixer, let alone retain our title. To have a chance of doing that, we needed to win every game going and the next two matches coming up looked fairly straightforward. Six points needed, we still had the players to do it, time to get our act together.

First up was a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton. United dominated the early stages and that led to Fletcher opening the scoring. Everton had no response to that and the Reds looked to be set for another straightforward win. However the Blues looked to stifle the reigning champions and in the end managed to succeed with Marouane Fellaini grabbing an equaliser. Everton weren't able to turn the game round but more importantly, United couldn't get a winner either. Just when our season couldn't get any worse, we manage to blow our best chance yet of breaking into the top four. Our title defence was starting to look worse than Blackburn's in 95/96.

So, we returned to Old Trafford to find ourselves up against West Ham. It didn't take long for Ronaldo to open the scoring and the Portuguese start got his second before half time with West Ham unable to do much about it. This was much more like it. The Hammers had the occasional chance in the second half but were never really much of a threat. United just cruised through the rest of the match and should have made it three. A much needed result that puts us back on the road at least. Even now though, you have to wonder if it will prove to be too little too late. We really need to be thinking about winning all our games between now and the end of the year.

Elsewhere, the main team that seems to have mugged us is Villa. Their run of form continued with a 4-0 win over Wigan at the JJB Stadium. That was followed by a tight 3-2 win over Blackburn at Villa Park to give themselves serious top four possibilities. The shock package of the early part of the season, Hull may be starting to deflate. They may have beaten West Brom 3-0 at the Hawthorns but Chelsea gave them a serious reality check but beating them 3-0 at the Kingston Communications Stadium. Still, that leaves United 6th in the Premiership. Yes that's with a game in hand but it's still two points behind Hull and European football next season though it is ten points ahead of Wigan and relegation.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced Hearts at Tynecastle in the SPL. Darren Mackie opened the scoring for the Dons only for Lee Wallace to equalise for the home side and it was Hearts that went on to have the better of the first half. Water on the pitch didn't help either side but it was definately Hearts that continued to have the better game, missing some good chances to put the Dons to the sword. The Dons had their own chances but couldn't take them. Aberdeen definately rode their luck on this occasion but the fact that they were succsessful in doing doing so is definately a cause for relief. The Pittodrie crew are on the move once again.

Elsewhere, St Mirren were beaten 2-0 by Dundee United at Tannadice Park with the Tangerines marking their return to action after the death of their chairman with two late goals to leave the Sants going home empty handed. Inverness CT then lost 2-1 to Motherwell at the Caledonian Stadium. The match may have been goalles at half time with Caley opening the scoring early on in the second half but Motherwell, now out of Europe are a team with something to prove. That allowed he Dons to rise to 8th place in the SPL, three points behind Hibs and the top half of the table though still only two points ahead of Hamilton and relegation so they still have work to do.

The CIS Insurance Cup quarter finals also took place. Falkirk beat Inverness CT 1-0 at the Falkirk Stadium to continue a good Cup run for Falkirk despite their SPL form. Rangers beat Hamilton 2-0 at Ibrox with goals either side of half time, a predictable result for an all-SPL tie. Dundee United beat SD1 Dunfirmline 1-0 at Tannadice Park with an early winner despite a defensive strategy to make the competition an all-SPL affair from here on in. Finally Kilmarnock were beaten 3-1 by Celtic at Rugby Park with the Celts well in control though the players threatened to lose it at time. It's certainly expected that Gordon Strachen's crew will face a tougher test in the semis, the draw for which is in a couple of weeks.

The FA Cup 1st round draw also took place. My local side Exeter City are doing the business in L2 and they've picked up a pretty easy run in the Cup this time around. Curzon Ashton, a Unibond League First Division North side at Tameside Stadium. Should be a cinch for the Grecians. My old main local team, Brentford are doing even better in L2 and face Blue Square South team Havant and Waterlooville at Westleigh Park. Should also be a smooth ride for the Bees. Another former local team, Hampton and Richmond of the Blue Square South failed to make the FA Cup proper this time around, getting knocked out in the fourth qualifying round.

Click here to visit the football archive

Comments get emailed here

Click here to return to sports homepage

Click here to return to Matt G's homepage