United dash for the line

April 18, 2007

ROONEY: Free-scoring form

UNITED'S dazzling Task Force cut a dash last night as they kept up the title pressure on Chelsea with a comfortable 2-0 win over strugglers Sheffield United.

An early goal from Michael Carrick and a cracker from Wayne Rooney gave the Reds another three points in the sprint to the Premiership finishing line.

And veteran Ryan Giggs reiterated that it is results, rather than performances, which matter at this stage of the season.

United have been in free-scoring form recently, but Giggs - who made his 500th league appearance last night - was not troubled they only managed two goals in front of the Old Trafford faithful.

Gameplan

The Welsh winger said: "Sheffield United came with a gameplan - to get men behind the ball - and the early goal sort of killed it.

"But we didn't play as well as we have been doing and 1-0 is always a dodgy scoreline, so we're pleased to get the second goal.

"It was a bit frustrating but this is an important part of the season. We've been lucky for the last three or four games to score a lot of goals.

"It's not going to be like that all time - sometimes 1-0 or 2-0 is a great scoreline.

"It's about getting results, we've done it tonight and we've got to do it on Saturday at home to Middlesbrough.

"We'd take 1-0 right now because we're not going to score four or five every game - as long as the lads do the job at the back we should be OK."

Reds' boss Sir Alex Ferguson praised his side for getting the win without expending too much effort.

Casualty

Patrice Evra was a notable casualty after he went off injured following a clash with Colin Kazim-Richards, but the Scot was pleased that his other players did not get run too hard.

"It was a professional job and in the second half we just ran the clock down a bit. We saved our legs well and I think that was a sensible thing to do," he said.

"The performance was economical and we didn't kill ourselves, which was important."

Speaking about the French defender's injury, Ferguson confirmed that it was unclear how long he would be missing for.

"He got a bad tackle and we'll send him for a scan."

What do you think? Have your say.

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Birdy, Ireland (18/04/2007 at 09:00)

Its some time since i seen a team take as negative an approach to a match as Shef Utd took last night. The only player they didnt look to man mark was our keeper. I thought we played some really good stuff at times and scored 2 lovely goals, but understandably found it difficult to get through the number of bodies amassed in front of Paddy Kenny's goal. I was surprised how negative Shef Utd were as theyve generally had a go at most teams this season. They did have a go last night, at taking out our full back. I also thought it was a bit worrying to see Wes and Gabby so troubled by Shelton. They were panicky whenever he ran at them. I think given the makeshift nature of the backline that can be excused, but the sooner we get our defenders back the better

ronaldo, manchester (18/04/2007 at 09:16)

I agree regarding Warnocks unbelieavable negative tactics in the last ten minutes,what entertainment is that?
Also watched Fergies interview afterwards and on both sky and mutv he stated that oshea and rio would be fit for weekend,know have you ever heard Fergie so insistant on giving away his team before the game,i thought a little strange,satursday game is going to be a toughie!!!!!!!

pete (18/04/2007 at 09:31)

I wrote a piece early but I think it got lost at the end of the discussion so a lot of people may not have read it but it is something I feel quite strongly about, so here goes again! I was reading an interesting blog in AS (I believe you can still find it) regarding Ryan Giggs. All the coments I read were full of praise - comparisons with the great Gento. Many saying he's been the best left winger in Europe for 10 years. Yet whenever the European footballer of the Year comes round where is he to be found? Not even in the top 8, not once! Yet Owen has won it, for what? A 'Super treble' with Liverpool. Lampard got a second or third, for what? Both superb players but their record compared to Giggs - no comparison. You only have to mention 99, of which he was an important part and included one moment of sublime skill with the goal against Arsenal. In this rant you can include also the name of Scholes - again not in the top 8, ever! In fact for that great team whose culmination was the 'real' treble of 99, the best the team got was a second place for Beckham. Some of these blogs reminded us that whilst we talk about Ronaldo we might forget the part Giggs played in those blistering counter attacks on Tuesday night, the same sort of thing he has been doing for 15 years. Maybe we should be telling our sports writers, Stuart Mathieson (I agree with Ted Knott's comments about the sometimes hysterical Stuart), David Sadler etc to start spreading the word (for those who might not know, it is the sports writers who vote for the European player of the year)about the merits of Giggs and Scholes before it's too late. A ballon d'or without Giggs or Scholes ever in the top 8 is an award diminished. Top 8, what am I talking about. The top 3 more like it and a winner between them would not go amiss.

Alias Smith, over the moon (18/04/2007 at 09:40)

pete, spot on. United players have not even had the recognition they deserve in the English awards, let alone Europe. Too many ABUs amongst the journos I suppose.

george (18/04/2007 at 09:43)

Dash for the line? I thought we paced ourselves to leave enough energy for the sprint finish if needed.Professional job.

Danny, Wilmslow (18/04/2007 at 09:44)

Pete so did I thought the ref was diabolicle and gave no protection to our players.The keeper shaped well.We could have had lots of goals.Fletcher played well.

Rick (18/04/2007 at 11:08)

Was a bit worrying the way Wes got beaten time and time again by Shelton last night.
Seems that neither him nor Vidic are as good on the ground as they are in the air.

As for the penalty claim, am irritated in the extreme about Sky going on and on about it, as did Warnock. And today the papers are picking up on what Warnock intimated and are saying that refs are scared of Fergie and that's why it wasn't given.

At the away match in Sheffield earlier this season I seem to remember United going 1-0 down, drawing level and then desperately looking for the winner. And while looking for that winner seem to recall us having two penalty appeals turned down by Mark Clattenburg: one on Saha and one on Scholes - if memory serves.

Fergie was upset at that at the end of the game, but not as much as he would've been had Rooney not scored the late winner.

Why didn't Sky nor Warnock remember that?

And talking about Sky, I had to admire the absolute gem Andy Gray came out with during commenatry at about 60 mins of the game last night when United were 2-0 up. He said:

"Well with the game set up the way it is, either Sheffield United will score next to make it 2-1, or Manchester United will score next to make it 3-0."

What can I say, the man's a genius!

Mick, Dublin (18/04/2007 at 11:19)

Well said, Pete. Some recognition for Giggs and Scholes is long overdue.

And well said about the ref, Danny. If that muppet never referees another United game, it will be too soon!

Apart from missing a stone-wall penalty, he was incredibly unfair with his yellow cards. I'm mystified as to how both teams finished with the same amount of yellow cards, when Sheffield were the only team who put in any really nasty tackles.

And his fussiness might come back to haunt us. Rooney's on 8 yellow cards now. 2 more and it's a two-match ban, which would be a DISASTER at this stage of the season.

manc abroad, OT (18/04/2007 at 11:32)

If we win the next nine games like that, great. This is the business end of the season where the players have to take that extra breath and shake off the tiredness.

We have a hard run-in and the possibility of playing Chel$ki three times in two weeks does not help.
But as everybody knows, United don't do things the easy way !

Hope the cleaner has bought extra silver polish !!!

F.Thys, Belgium (18/04/2007 at 12:00)

The same weekly routine :
euphoric about another United win bringing us closer to the title, followed 24 hours later by great dissapointment for another last minute, or 1-goal difference Chelski win.

Southern Red (18/04/2007 at 12:20)

Thankfully Rio is back this weekend as Wes seems to play much better with him alongside. Heinze is a fantasic player but needs to kept well clear of the penalty area.

Last night's game was not pretty but did the job. Good to see Carrick and Scholes playing well together sharing the attack/defence rolls with better understanding.

I think Rooney is two yellows away from a ban and we've got three games before Chelski. It must be the Captain's number one job to stop this kid mouthing off the ref.

Duncan, London (18/04/2007 at 16:42)

Good point Southern Red about Rooney mouthing off. Another reason why Rio should be captain IMO because he seems the only player other than Gazza who is not afraid to give his team mates a good old fashioned rollicking.

de Meester, netherlands (18/04/2007 at 16:50)

We did enough and I thought if only their winger Shelton could shoot he may have had one at least!
Nota classisc display but it was enough. I feel if we had needed to play with a bit more urgency we would have would have won by more!
Still their keeper saved a few, which could have meant a bigger winning total otherwise!
The nervous energy should keep them going now to the line!
Up The Reds

Dan (18/04/2007 at 16:51)

for all those worring about Rooney's 8 yellow cards, the deadline of the season has past where they counted. So yellow's do not matter now

de Meester, netherlands (18/04/2007 at 16:53)

pete;
Agree with your comments.
It is called ABU and we should be used to it!
They give us accolades - grudgingly!!!
What we know and appreciate matters in the end though!!
Red til I die!

United<3, Norway (18/04/2007 at 17:18)

Mick and Southern Red, you can just relax;) First of all, Rooney picked up his 5th yellow card in the PL and 7th yellow card in all FA competitions. Some may have suggested he should have been banned for the Boro-game. This IS NOT correct. The FA gives ¿yellow-card-amnesty¿ at the end of the season. The rules are as following:

- Until the end of February it will be given a ONE-game ban after 5 yellow cards.

- If you pick up 10 yellow cards before April 15th, it will mean a TWO-game ban.

- And if you pick up 15 yellow cards by the end of the season, you¿ll get a THREE-game ban.

BUT no United-player is in danger of reaching 15 yellow cards! No wonder why Rooney was in the referee¿s face all night long yesterday..;) Vida has 8 yellow cards in all national tournaments, while Scholes and Rooney have 7.

NB! KIERAN RICHARDSON HAS MANAGED TO PICK UP 5 YELLOW CARDS IN 9+7 (sub) GAMES THIS SEASON¿¿LOL! Anyone interested???...

Source: premierleague.com

de Meester, netherlands (18/04/2007 at 18:00)

We'll do it.
The impetus is evident now!
We will get there!!
On another note I see Totti is 'cheering on' Milan.
Poor, Bitter and Loser seem appropiate words!
We're nearly there!
(Get polishing that trophy!) Come On You Reds

Phil Harvey (18/04/2007 at 18:39)

Good point Pete, i would also add Schmeichel & keano to the list of players not recognised by Europe - additionally why Keane only won th PFA Player of the year once i dont know. i read we are to sign 2 players in the summer. i suggest we need three. Hargreaves is obviously one of them, (how he will fit will be interesting with Carrick looking like he could be capable of greatness sooner rather than later)i suggest we need cover for Giggs plus a striker who can bag 20 goals a season AND stay fit - something Saha is clearly not capable of it seems. also concerned over our captains niggling little injuries that have popped up more often than not this season. So, who would the audience suggest we buy in the summer and has anyone seen Cathcart play? Heard lots but havent seen him in action.

Tottenham Red (18/04/2007 at 22:31)

Gary Neville's absence is a result of Gary Speed's knee crushing his ankle. Hardly a "niggling little injury" whatever that means.

Davey Boy, Kuwait (19/04/2007 at 07:33)

No one wants to loose WR with a suspension....but while everyone is complaining about his 'mouthing off' to the ref..lets look at the sheff united game shall the ref was poor firstly with the booking of Smith, secondly the poor foul on evra with no card, the penalty which everyone seems to ignore on rooney in rugby its called a 'hand off', the booking of CR who was physically man handled and could have resulted in a penalty and thats not mentioning the lunatic that was man marking him and who seemed to have a free license to do what he liked....so as anyone who has ever played football will agree even the mildest of men would have seen red with this muppet refereeing.
God help this guy if keano had still been around!

Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (19/04/2007 at 20:08)

United are in for a dashing finish indeed. They call it a dash because it the race isn't that long now.

Phil Harvey (19/04/2007 at 21:58)

Tottenham Red, if yo hadnt noticed GN has been out more than a couple of occasions this season - i don think we can blame Speed for all of these!!

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