The pressure on Manchester United is building. With every fixture from now on in, there is a requirement to get the three points to stay ahead of the rest of the league and send out a message to Chelsea. The response to the pressure will probably determine the destiny of the domestic title but will also determine certain player’s careers. So far the pressure is bringing out the best in the players.
Under the guidance of Fergie the side is looking well balanced and the necessary appetite appears to have returned. Last season, the humiliation of a 4-1 defeat at the Riverside led to Roy Keane famously playing the pundit. This season, after United’s deserved 2-1 victory at the Riverside there is to be no post mortem. Put simply it is not needed.
The game saw the familiar line-up, with the only change being Fletcher coming in for Carrick. Central midfield is Fletchers’ best position and his favoured position. He was industrious throughout and acted as a willing worker alongside the majestic Paul Scholes. Cristiano will be remembered for the drama in the penalty area that led to Saha giving United the lead from the spot. There was no contact from Schwarzer on Ronaldo but the winger knew the keeper had over-committed and that contact would result in a spot-kick. He was already off balance when Schwarzer removed his hand and went down as a result. In my view, the attacker has got his team the penalty. Rightly or wrongly he has done the keeper . He isn’t the first and he sure as hell won’t be the last. Middlesbrough were rightly aggrieved and if the decision had gone the other way, so would the United contingent.
The penalty was not the turning point of the game. United missed a number of opportunities to kill the game off. In a season that has seen United now score 18 goals away from home, it seems odd to say that chances must be taken, but as the pressure grows so does the need to be ruthless. It is at this time that United may just begin to miss the killer instinct of a Van Nistlerooy. However, Saha and Rooney are playing well and the goals continue to be shared around the team.
Middlesbrough found a way back into the game from some fine work from Stewart Downing. It was his intelligent cross that led to James Morrison finishing to give the home side the belief that they could once again take points from this fixture. Middlesbrough’s hopes were dashed when two minutes after their equaliser Fletcher connected well with Giggs’ cross to head United in front. Game over.
With an important game coming up against Benfica on Wednesday, United did well to concentrate on ensuring the three points from a fixture that has seen Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton all drop at least 2 points. Perhaps this is why Gary Neville celebrated by punching the air. However, with the pressure yet to reach truly examining levels this result for United was only another important step in a long race to be the best team in the Premiership.
Player ratings:
Under the guidance of Fergie the side is looking well balanced and the necessary appetite appears to have returned. Last season, the humiliation of a 4-1 defeat at the Riverside led to Roy Keane famously playing the pundit. This season, after United’s deserved 2-1 victory at the Riverside there is to be no post mortem. Put simply it is not needed.
The game saw the familiar line-up, with the only change being Fletcher coming in for Carrick. Central midfield is Fletchers’ best position and his favoured position. He was industrious throughout and acted as a willing worker alongside the majestic Paul Scholes. Cristiano will be remembered for the drama in the penalty area that led to Saha giving United the lead from the spot. There was no contact from Schwarzer on Ronaldo but the winger knew the keeper had over-committed and that contact would result in a spot-kick. He was already off balance when Schwarzer removed his hand and went down as a result. In my view, the attacker has got his team the penalty. Rightly or wrongly he has done the keeper . He isn’t the first and he sure as hell won’t be the last. Middlesbrough were rightly aggrieved and if the decision had gone the other way, so would the United contingent.
The penalty was not the turning point of the game. United missed a number of opportunities to kill the game off. In a season that has seen United now score 18 goals away from home, it seems odd to say that chances must be taken, but as the pressure grows so does the need to be ruthless. It is at this time that United may just begin to miss the killer instinct of a Van Nistlerooy. However, Saha and Rooney are playing well and the goals continue to be shared around the team.
Middlesbrough found a way back into the game from some fine work from Stewart Downing. It was his intelligent cross that led to James Morrison finishing to give the home side the belief that they could once again take points from this fixture. Middlesbrough’s hopes were dashed when two minutes after their equaliser Fletcher connected well with Giggs’ cross to head United in front. Game over.
With an important game coming up against Benfica on Wednesday, United did well to concentrate on ensuring the three points from a fixture that has seen Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton all drop at least 2 points. Perhaps this is why Gary Neville celebrated by punching the air. However, with the pressure yet to reach truly examining levels this result for United was only another important step in a long race to be the best team in the Premiership.
Player ratings:
Van der Saar 6/10
Neville 6/10
Ferdinand 7/10
Vidic 8/10
Heinze 7/10
Ronaldo 7/10
Fletcher 7/10
Scholes 8/10
Giggs 7/10
Rooney 7/10
Saha 8/10
Man of the match – Paul Scholes
Neville 6/10
Ferdinand 7/10
Vidic 8/10
Heinze 7/10
Ronaldo 7/10
Fletcher 7/10
Scholes 8/10
Giggs 7/10
Rooney 7/10
Saha 8/10
Man of the match – Paul Scholes
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