MANCHESTER United closed out their title-winning Premier League season with yet another victory at Hull despite fielding a weakened team.
The Reds made 10 changes to their line-up but midfielder Darron Gibson's stunning first-half strike proved decisive, although results elsewhere meant Hull stayed up.
With the domestic league now wrapped up, all eyes now turn to Wednesday's Champions League clash with Barcelona in Rome on Wednesday night.
It may have been Tigers versus the cubs but it was United's youngsters who showed they have got the real sharp claws.
If you thought guessing Fergie's was a tough gig then attempting to come up with his makeshift choice proved to be an equally impossible task.
The addition of unknown Ritchie De Laet was the selection from left field that flummoxed everybody.
With Rio Ferdinand not even being afford a brief warm up before Rome after his calf injury the United manager left his entire Champions League final side back home watching the gripping drama from their lounge settees. On the face of it Fergie's XI seemed to pay scant regard to those heavily involved in Survival Sunday.
But why should he when you are the champions and have Wonderful Wednesday to consider.
Luck
Four of his line up at the KC Stadium, Gibson, Lee Martin, De Laet and Danny Welbeck could not muster a Premier League start between them. Federico Macheda was a veteran in comparison with one outing from the off against Middlesbrough recently.
Hull fans couldn't believe their luck when United's team was announced. This was surely the `Get out of Jail Free' card that Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Newcastle couldn't play on this nerve jangling of final afternoons.
Ferguson's selection of De Laet even had the Reds followers Googling his name to find out some info on their left back in Yorkshire.
The 20-year-old was brought to Old Trafford in Jnauary on the recommendation of Ole Solskjaer's reserve coach Warren Joyce who'd had the young defender under his wing at United's alliance club Royal Antwerp. He rescued him from a inauspicious time at Stoke City.
Back in October when Hull were enjoying the dizzy heights of the Premeir League top three De Laet was starting a month long loan from the Potteries at National Conference side Wrexham against Lewes!
When you are wearing number 44 on your back you know that Fergie is really digging deep into his resources. There were three players on the bench wearing numbers even higher in the forties! However, if United's team sheet had caused consternation among the other relegation candidates then it wasn't long into the fateful last 90-minute programme that they got their answer that no matter the personnel United meant business.
It was the Reds who blasted in the first goal of the afternoon in the critical games.
And what a stunning goal it was from Gibson. The Republic of Ireland international may not have had much of a Premier League CV to speak of but he has played in two Wembley matches this season for the Reds and his 24th minute blast from 25 yards that froze the Hull support was worthy of gracing the Venue of Legends.
Strike
It was a strike that Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't have bettered and all arguments that United and Fergie were not upholding the honesty of the Premier League surely dissolved at the very moment the netting rippled.
Fergie had piled all his experience mainly into the centre of the back four with Champiosn league medal winners Wes Brown and Gary Neville forming the central partnership but so fraught with nerves were the Tigers that the experienced duo had little to do.
On the other hand Macheda and Welbeck could have added to United's comfort with more assured finishing after decent build up work.
But even if things were going well elsewhere it was really down to Hull to find an answer to ease the tension. But with Brown dominant at the back and Fergie's fledglings enjoying their moment in the sun goalmouth action was at a premium.
Hull boss Phil Brown has set up a decent line of communication with Old Trafford to add some of Fergie's reserve players to his squad. Manucho has been at the KC Stadium this term but most successful was Fraizer Campbell's stint last term when his goals helped the Tigers to promotion.
If they hadn't been so wrapped up in their team's survival scrap they may have enjoyed watching some of United's next generation who may end up being nurtured on the East coast.
What is your verdict on the game? Have your say.
Hull 0 United 1
May 24, 2009
Comments
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what a superb goal
... and De Laet probably looked the best player on the field with Fletcher looking one of the worse. I'm glad Hull stayed up they deserve another year.
fantastic goal by Gibson!! He & Possebon will be good regular back up for the central midfield next season.
De Laet was impressive as was Lee Martin, and good to see Wes making a few of his no nonsense tackles.
Shearer the messiah??? LMAO!! goodbye barcodes!!
De Laet impressed and it's great to see a midfielder willing - and able - to shoot.
Ninty points, of which 70 out of 72 points gained from the 8th and below teams.
Three consecutive titles - a fantastic achievement by Sir Alex and the team. And now Wednesday and a chance to beat the claimed best team in Europe.
BUSBY BABES & FERGIE'S FLEDGLINGS!
ohhhhhhh im gettin a bit tense re Wednesday night !!!!
Well done boys !
Nice to see Wes !!
I am not sure if Fergie will risk this team against Barcelona he may need to replace Gary Neville and has to replace Fletcher.
Ted Knott, you are a disgrace. You were calling Fergie for fielding a so called "weaker side" and yet the champions still were victorious. Where are you? What a clown !
Shocked at the abuse thrown at Man Utd on talkSPORT radio prior to the game.
Because of Fergie's team selection, "get behind Barcelona on Wednesday now" was the message. This station really hates United. Just too many ex Liverpool & Arsenal players in the media me thinks.
On that display can you believe there are 3 teams even worse than Hull?!As for United - what a find De Laet is....ready made cover for Ev next season.Thought Macheda and Wellbeck showed good instincts for goal but if only they'd both looked around a few times they would have seen players in a better position to finish...the future looks even brighter though.
Cheer up Alan Shearer!!!
HOW MANY 'DIFFERENT' UNITED PLAYERS HAVE SCORED IN 1ST TEAM MATCHES THIS SEASON ?? ANYONE KNOW ?? - BET ITS A FAIR FEW !!!
A good result from the Reserves. De Laet a good find and good to have in reserve for next season. Very disappointed in Fletcher never looked like he wanted to be there, poor nani never got in the game because nothing was being played to him especially in the second half. As for Welbeck sorry just to clumsy and should have come of sooner to give Tosic a run for at least 1/2 hour, but Welbeck and Machieda seemed to playing for themselves with the amount of times they could and should have moved the ball but chose to have a go themselves only to miss completely or have the ball taken off them.
But on the whole a good result and left Pool 4 points adrift, and as has been mentioned shot down all the whiners who said we would just turn up and let Hull have the points, they never even looked like earning them this was not the side who took the first half of the season by storm with their effort, I expected them to run their hearts out knowing they needed a win and it did not matter what oothers did they would stay up but they did not look like they cared one way or the other.
The big question now is will Rio be fit for Wednesday?????
Good mail - Mark South Manchester.
Mind you arn't we the most hated club in Britain! Long live our success.
On that performance got to say Hull didn't deserve to stay up.
Wonder strike from "Gibbo" his performances have been tremendous he never lets you down. I'm still out about Wellbeck ? Perhaps i'm expecting more from him ?? Nonetheless we've got some great prospects waiting in the wings.
Roll-on Wednesday i'm quietly confident. Good luck 1st string.
Andy P, Wythenshawe, Manchester
Andy - Ted Knott will be still getting over his hangover. He will have been celebrating what he will call the ' 1-0 destruction of Bolton by the Richest Club in the Whole Wide World' .
"Prrrrrrph!
Barcelona played a weakened team against relegation threatened Osasuna and lost!! Are these radio journalists completely mad.Still let the jeolous hordes hate us because of our success(which will continue),just watch us beat Barca on Wednesday. I 've seen the future and its Red!!! United rule!!!
a really enjoyable game the lads brought in did a great job. fantastic ending to the campaign and what a wonderful goal.
United have had 17 different scorers in all competitions this season... so far...
Ronaldo(26), Rooney(20), Tevez(15), Berbatov(14), Vidic(7), Nani(6), Carrick(4), Fletcher(4), Giggs(4), Park(4), Scholes(3), Wellbeck(3), Gibson(3), Macheda(2), O'Shea(2), Brown(1), R Da Silva(1). Total 119.
Another example of how strong the squad is. Special praise to the youngsters - Gibson, De Lait & Martin who all played very well, however, what about the Nevster and Wes? The game was worth watching for those aspects alone even if Hull were totally toothless. Nice to finish with a win - now Wednesday?
For those of us who regularly follow the reserves, there were no real surprises from this victory - just a shame Danny Drinkwater didn't get a run and that Zoran Tosic had to wait too long on the bench. Richie de Laet is, in fact, a central defender and I think he was picked today for his aerial abilities - he being slightly taller and better in the air than either Corry Evans or James Chester and SAF obviously expected Hull to pump it long hoping to exploit United's lack of height. However, I rate both Corry and James slightly ahead of Richie De Laet at present but , if he continues his progress since joining United, who knows? Craig Cathcart, still only 20 and who has been on a season long loan at Plymouth, also looked a very good junior and could progress next year if given the chance. Incidentally, rather than Richie De Laet, I would expect the cover for Pat Evra next year is more likely to be either Fabio da Silva or John O'Shea (although Jonny Evans has played there for Northern Ireland and may be another option). If people have been impressed by Rafael da Silva this year, they should remember that his brother is (a) potentially a better player than Rafa (b) scores more goals and (c) captained the Brazilian Under 17 team that won the World Cup in 2007. Next year's looking good!!
And the reds go marching On, On, On.
Danny, wilmslow 'I am not sure if Fergie will risk this team against Barcelona'
I hope he doesn't - I'd like to see Vidic, Ferdinand, Tevez, Ronney, Ronaldo, van der Sar, Berbatov, Carrick, Evra etc come in on Wednesday night!
Are the north east clubs going to still sue now even though we won with kids(alan hansen you cant win any thing with kids.
PMSL thought not big struggle for newcastle and borough glad hull and sunderland stayed up now lets have burnley up please i respect burnley...
Ted Knott, you are a disgrace. You were calling Fergie for fielding a so called "weaker side" and yet the champions still were victorious. Where are you? What a clown !
Andy P, Wythenshawe, Manchester
24/05/2009 at 19:45.
teddy bear knott is from droyesden ant you ted .
How is your richeste club in the world not even in the eufa cup never mind finishing half way in the league 10 next year it will be 17 three from the drop zone but i hope its 19 and relegated,we played kids who could have hammed liddle ciddy and just watch the real champs on wednesday.....lol...
I'm surprised by the criticism of Fletcher. He's been one of our best performers all season yet gets bashed for an end-of-season dead rubber (as far as United are concerned). Out of the entire XI fielded, he was probably the only one who would not have played had it not been for his unjust suspension. No wonder he seemed not to motivated.
Regardless, he was as composed as ever v Hull. The reason he didn't look impressive was because the team did not play through the middle. Understandbly, United did not keep possession for too long. When they did get the ball, the youngsters invariably went on individual runs or misguided long passes.
Besides, as everyone knows, Fletcher is the man for the big occasions. When everything is going fine, he just lets the others get on with it. Trust me, had United been trailing he would have come to the fore and drove the team ahead.
Enjoy you summer, Darren. You deserve it after a fabulous season. Cheers