UNITED WINNING AGAIN

 

Last season, Kevin MacDonald started as Villa manager before Gerard Houllier took over. The first time we faced his side, we drew 2-2 at Villa Park before beating them 3-1 at Old Trafford, on our way to the title and Villa's way to midtable. The last time we did the double over Villa was back in the 07/08 season when Martin O'Neill was manager. First up we beat them 4-1 at Villa Park in which United came back from behind and Villa finished with nine men. Then came a 4-0 win at Old Trafford with Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez amongst those that hit the net. That season we also went on to claim the Premiership title while Villa tried their hand at the Intertoto Cup.

Fastforward to the present day and Villa are now managed by Alex McLeish, one of Fergies former Aberdeen players back in the 1980s and Dons captain of the early 90s. Once again, his guys have settled into the upper part of midtable and have enough quality to give us a match. Ultimately though, we we needed at this point though was a win. Out of one competition and struggling to keep pace in the other two we've started, three points were crucial here. United had Lindegaard in goal, Smalling right back, Vidic(captain) and Rio centre back, Evra left back, Nani right mid, Carrick and Jones centre mid, Young left mid, Rooney and Hernandez up front.

United had a pretty solid start to proceding but then we lost one of our deadliest assasins to injury. Needless to say we needed that like we needed a hole in the head. In was only a matter of time before United hit the net though with Nani crossing to Jones who headed in for his first ever goal in senior football. Ultimately there was only really one team in the match in the first half and the Reds really should have been more than one up by the interval. Villa occasionally had their uses but they also had injury problems and needed a new goalie before half time. So far so good for the Reds and now it was simply a matter of finishing the game off.

United picked up where they left off in the second half but the Villa defence and goalie somehow managed to hold firm and Villa again got the occasional chance but they never seriously looked like getting back into the game. Emile Heskey then looked like turning back the clock for Villa, heading only just wide but the home side were starting to get their act together however that was nothing we couldn't handle and we looked to be cruising to the finish, hitting the net again just before the end only for it to be ruled out for offside. Finally the reigning Premiership champions have remembered how to win a game and with that our defence of the title might be starting to get back on track.

Elsewhere, Man City beat Norwich 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium with the Premiership new guys being utterly anhiliated. The league leaders were only one up going into half time but blew their opponents apart in the second period. Chelsea beat Newcastle 3-0 at St James' Park. The Blues were only one up at half time and most Magpies fans felt they were lucky not to have gone down to ten men before the interval, the last two goals coming in the games' dying minutes. That means that United remain 2nd in the Premiership and on course for next season's Champions League group stages. We're five points behind leaders Man City and five points ahead of Chelsea and a detour through the playoffs.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the SPL. Gary Harkins opened the scoring for Killie early on and after that the rest of the half was pretty messy, and Craig Brown needed to boost them up at half time. Killie went on to get their second after half time though thanks to James Dayton and generally the Reds were simply not up to much and ultimately it was not a good afternoon to be a Dons fan. The Reds are obviously on a downer mentally with their recent run of form and the obvious questin will always be asked, what of Craig Brown? As things stand he will remain as Dons gaffer but you have to wonder for how much longer.

Elsewhere, Dunfirline faced Rangers at Ibrox. The Gers opened the scoring when Pars defender Alexander Keddie put the ball into his own net and Nikica Jelavic made it two for the Old Firm side before Joe Cardle pulled one back for the visitors before half time. Rangers remained the superior side in the second half burt the Pars weren't outclassed in the latter period. An equaliser proved to be undoable though and the Pars came away empty. That still means though that Aberdeen drop to 12th in the SPL and are therefore on course for relegation, one point behind Dunfirmline and safety. It looks like it's going to be one of those seasons for the Dons.

Back south of the border and down a few levels, Brentford faced BSP side Wrexham at Griffin Park. It looked like it would be a straightforward matchup for the Bees but then Jamie Trolley opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half. The Bees tried to step it up in the second half but their attacking threat was a lot weaker than it should have been and though they did get a decent opportunity for an equaliser in the dying stages they were unable to take it. Needless to say Uwe Rosler was not qa happy man after that performance, describing his attackers as "toothless". As a result of this weak display, the Bees now only have the league to concentrate on.

(Image taken from Sky Sports)

The FA Cup 3rd round draw has been made though and United have entered the competition. Slight problem, not only have we been drawn into an all-Premiership tie but it's Man City at the Etihad Stadium! Someone up there is having a laugh. First order of business...the defending FA Cup champions and Premiership leaders and a team that have already anhiliated us once in the Premiership. The hope has to be that we've learned our lessons from that blowout but still, it's probably the only draw that could have made a United fan worried. It's not undoable but the Reds have to go into this one with low expectations and on current form, hope we catch them on an offday.

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