WE'RE WINNING AGAIN!

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

 

OK, well I certainly hadn't expected the season to start like this. Three games in and no wins. Our best players were getting injured, Heinze had gone(though to Real, not to Anfield)Tevez wasn't able to find top form and people were writing United's title challenge off already. Well, how can blame them, at one point, we were in the relegation zone! We had two home games coming up though, neither of them would be walkovers but we had to start winning sometime!

The first visitors to Old Trafford were Spurs and Martin Jol's crew arrived in no mood for mercy. In fact, we had our backs against the wall for most of the first half with the Tottenham strikeforce being gifted two chances which were luckily blown. In fact it was a pretty sludgy United performance overall, but the stattos will not care because Nani hit the winner and we were finally able to claim an 07/08 season win, though we had yet to hit top gear!

Cue Keano returning to Old Trafford, this time as gaffer of newly promoted Sunderland! More injuries meant that it was yet another weak first half performance from United despite everyone being hungry for chances. The lack of edge proved embarrassing enough for Fergie to re-introduce Louis Saha into the mix in the second half and trick worked, the Frenchman marking his comeback with the winner after yet another dodgy performance.

The two wins are certainly welcome though as they allow United to surge into the top half of the table at least, getting us 8th place in the Premiership. Problem is though, City are still a point ahead of us and on course for European football despite a 1-0 defeat to Blackburn at Ewood Park. Given where we were before the Spurs game though, at least we can claim to be well clear of the drop zone, four points clear of Reading, in 18th after losing 3-0 to West Ham at the Madjeski Stadium.

North of the border and Aberdeen also have started to pick up something resembling reasonable SPL form. First up, the Dons drew 3-3 with Hibs at Easter Road though they should have picked up three points. They went one better against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park though, finally securing a 1-0 win despite Killie being the better side for most of the first half. That was enough to allow the Dons to move up to 8th in the SPL, still two point behind Killie and the top half of the table but at least five points ahead of Inverness CT and relegation.

Back south of the border and the 2nd round of the Carling Cup took place. No teams that I have any interest in whatsoever took part in this stage of the competition but it was the point when at least some Premiership teams enter the fray and there were three notable scalps. Derby drew 2-2 with Championship Blackpool before losing on penalties, Sunderland lost 3-0 to L1 Luton at Kenilworth Road and Wigan lost 1-0 to Championship Hull at the JJB Stadium.

Round 3 is when United enter the mixer and we face Coventry at Old Trafford. I can certainly remember us playing Coventry in the Premiership back in the 90s but the side haven't looked like getting back into the top flight for a while. Their early season Championship form says that they might break that duck which means that they could definately give our reserves a match but as the match is on home turf, I'm optimistic enough that we'll get through.

Another domestic time out coming up, this time for Euro 2008 qualifiers

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