TWO cracking strikes from Darron Gibson sent Manchester United through to the Carling Cup semi-finals at the expense of Tottenham.
The Reds were put under pressure early on by a lively Spurs side, but Gibson struck after 16 and 38 minutes to put Sir Alex Ferguson's men in command.
Last week after the Besiktas slump in the Champions League Gibson was singled out by some critics as the elder statesmen among the younger generation who was facing the possibility of having no tomorrow at Old Trafford.
Having reached the grand old age of 22 the midfielder they argued Gibson had not made enough of an impact to worry the senior members of the engine room.
He was certainly the Reds man for the moment here as he unleashed two cracking hits to suggest his long range specialist finishing has definitely got a future in Fergie's plans.
It looked initially like the eventual match winner might not still have rediscovered his shooting boots as he dragged a shot well wide. The groans of disappointment from the Old Trafford crowd were in contrast to their ambitious urging later on to let fly from the halfway line following his two successful shots!
They probably weren't joking either because Gibson had got himself into the groove and looked like he could hit a punt past Heurelho Gomes from any distance he cared to choose.
Lesser players may have decided on a simple passing game and hand the shooting duty to someone else after his wayward start and the memory of last week fresh in the mind.
But just 12 minutes after his first effort endangered an advertising hoarding Ji-sung Park and Anderson, another two who had got it in the neck following the Bedsiktas misery, combined to set up Gibson. This time it was a textbook skidding low drive beyond Gomes.
Gibson precision
Tottenham, however, were still enjoying the bulk of the possession and were dragging the Reds all over the place in a vain attempt to regain.
Harry Redknapp's side, though, seemed to want to create the perfect goal and so much of their danger ended with Nemanja Vidic and the impressive Ritchie De Laet mopping up commandingly.
Gibson showed the visitors again after 38 minutes that a goal can be equally as satisfying and rewarding even if you don't venture into the box with clever passing moves.
Dimitar Berbatov, back after missing the last five United matches with a knee injury brought a calmness to the United ranks that was missing in the Champions League defeat last week.
The Bulgarian's poised rubbed off on Mancunian Danny Welbeck when he cushioned his senior partner's square pass and laid it off cooly to Gibson. Once again the Irishman went for placement and again Gomes was just a desperate bystander as it beat his reach and sailed high into the top corner.
United were never seriously in any danger of blowing a semi final chance after that and it proved to be a good platform to prove to any of the doubters that many of Fergie's latest batch of fledglings will be around possibly even longer than the manager himself.
The one time Tottenham did manage a hint that they could engineer some kind of comeback they found Polish international keeper Tomasz Kuszczak as keen as his younger colleagues to prove he too has a future with the Reds senior gloves.
He appears to have manoeuvred himself slightly ahead of rival Ben Foster as Edwin van der Sar's successor who was part of the Euro reverse last midweek. Having impressed at Fratton Park against Portsmouth last Saturday he produced an excellent second half save to stop David Bentley and add another significant save to his CV.
Once Kuszczak blunted that effort the Reds sauntered to the last four.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
United 2 Tottenham 0
December 01, 2009
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SMACK !!!!! wheres them critics ?????????????????
That Darron Gibson can strike a ball.......
Take my hat off to the lad he has taking his chance i be the first to admit i question if he has what it takes to make the grade at OT but tonight he has done his chances no harm.The one difference between himself and our other CM players is his eye for goal confidence was he be buzzing well done Darron enjoy your headlines.Bring on the semis..
Good display today. It makes me feel really confident in the young lads. And no mistakes from Kuszczak, is he the replacement for VDS?
Vidic is without a doubt MoM for me.
KingCantona7:
De Laet was obviously nervous in the first half. he did a great second half!
A boring game, which is the norm these days, but some solid performances, particularly Gibson, which is encouraging. Even though he only made a cameo appearance I thought Tosic looked more of a footballer than either Obertan or Nani. I did think that Neville and Park, as 'senior' players were very poor.
Good to see the central midfielders deliver in a game where the wingers didn't. First poor performance by Obertan. Although it wasn't that bad. Strikers, central midfielders and central defenders did well. the sides were poor. Both the fullbacks and the wingers. MOM is either Anderson or Gibson. Gibson will get it because of his goals, but I think Anderson was at least equal to him in effort. Running all over the pitch like possessed. He needs to get more chances in the league. Tottenham brought nearly their best side to the game. That is comforting. Tosic should have gotten the start in front of Park. I'd like to see more of him.
Play the kids in the Carling cup, they may even win against a strong Spurs. BELIEVE.
Mrs Fullaway's lodger,
30/11/2009 at 15:25
without words . . . almost. Here goes: Ando was brilliant, what a couple of crackers from Gibbo, Vida has remembered he can play, Berba is simply top notch, Wellbeck has a future here, Ooh Aah Obertan, Kitkat did well and lasted 70 minutes without a mistake, Gazza slow and solid, Wes was there when needed, de Laet had a hard time with Bentley but came out on top, Park was a busy man (as always) and nearly had a shot on target. Michelle and Macheda showed intent, not much time for anything else.
Who said Gibbo can only shoot? Own up.
Sorry Neal, Tosic could well come good in the Prem. Still hard to say though, Spurs were already dead when he came on. Wait and see.
To all the doubters and sceptics and doom mongers - "Go and support Leeds!"
Negatives: Gibson (awful, despite the goals(Carrick received more passes in the seconds he was on because he made himself available which Gibson doesn't)), Vidic (nervous), Obertan (totally starved of the ball), de Laet (over anxious).
Positives: Anderson (trying), Macheda (first two things he did were unselfish! Who'd have thought!), Welbeck (ultimate class but kept in check), Park (the one who looked like the senior player).
Others = average
Two great strikes from Gibson, credit where it is due
Anderson played how we love him to, all over the place and with intent
Berbatov just has sublime control of a football from any angle, good to have him back
De Laet improved as the game went on
Good to see Kuszczak's efforts on Saturday being rewarder with a start tonight, he should continue on Saturday
Kiko impressed in his cameo
YES OH YES WE FINALLY GET TO SEE OUR NUMBER 14...TOSIC IS AN UNREAL TALENT, HIS LITTLE CAMEO MADE MY NIGHT...PLEASE GIVE HIM MORE CHANCES (from a reserve regular match fan)
Enjoyed the game at OT, played well all game and bossed Spurs well with Obertan again having a great game. Got to say Atmosphere wasn't the best, even last week at Besiktas we were more vocal so with 57k there you would expect more from some sections.
Have to agree with Fergy here we were poor for the first 30 minutes and even he admitted we could have been 2 or 3 down. It did settle when Gibson got the first and then when we got the second it took the wind out of spurs.
Obertan just was not at the races, I agree withthe comments about Park but when he moved to the rightside he improved. But Neville was taken to the cleaners a few times by lennons pace and also bale.
Sorry apart from his pass for Gibsons second Welbeck was never in the game I thought he should have come off for Tosic earlier at time he had the ball with time and not once did he do anything but lose it by miscontrol of lack of ability, Delaet struggled most of the night but never got disheartened and made one great block to stop defoe.
I am glad that spurs took of Keane because it meant that defoe had not help as all they did then was to lump the ball up to crouch whereas in the first half they were playing it around us on the floor.
Brown and Vidic were the difference in the first half making some very timely blocks and headers.
Kit Kat again dealt vey well with all they could get through to him with one very good save.
MOM for me was Anderson he was imense throughout the game getting up and down the park always looking for the ball and very rarely giving it away.
Not enough time for Tosic to make any impression.
Very impressed with DeLaet once he got the nerves out of his system. Hard tackler and loves to get forward. Tosik over Park any day. Macheda, do him a favour and get him out to a Championship side in January. Wellbeck needs experience beside him but there's a lot of football in him. Gibson showed me a lot tonight and KitKat was once again solid. Spurs looked a bit jaded while we had way more energy and our passing was impressive.
go kruzcak go....kick ben foster out of the team and into the china league!
Shakey first 30 mins but got there in the end. When the young lads get in to the united rhythm and over enthusiasm settles down I feel we will have one of the best sides ever.
great for the team to prove all the Rat-munching Scouse supporting media types wrong - criticizing the youngsters after the Besiktas game looking forward to getting the Bitters in the semi-final hopefully!
viktor sweden
correction no mistakes that lead to goals.
Next round for us now ! well done boys !
Another flatter to deceive performance from Berbatov, did nothing in danger areas, nice touches elsewhere but never looked like scoring or creating a goal. What a waste of 31m. Park was the worst player on the field, falls over more often than a pack of cards, can't pass, shoot, tackle or keep the ball. If Tosic can't get a game ahead of this waste of space he must be useless! Thought Anderson had his best game so far and adds real pace in midfield. Not sure if Obertan has an end product? Wellbeck was ok but looks far too cocky for his own good. Gibson really gives us goal scoring options from midfield but not sure he does enough overall. De laet got better as the game went on but looked very nervous at start and gave the ball away too often.
OK hands up. I’m glad to say that I was wrong and the ‘stiffs’ team were good enough to beat Spurs.
The good on the night was the return to form of Vidic who was literally immense.
Vid & Wes did a grand job of keeping Keane, Defoe & Crouch at bay and actually looked a partnership last night.
De Lait looks a very good defender and he certainly has a future. Gibson’s goals were like Scholes in his prime. Has this lad edged now ahead of Anderson who had another indifferent game for me? Not bad, not good but failing to really show what he’s truly capable of once more.
The downside for me was another lack lustre performance from Berbatov who never looked scoring. Nice touches yes, but 30 million dangerous – absolutely not.
Park was wretched and would be better employed in a wasps nest as one of the many workers where he’d feel very much at home.
Wellgood & Macheda looked reserve players and have a long way to go.
Finally a good word for the Nevster, 34 years old and his third game in just over a week and he played really well, what a pro.
Mrs Fullaway's lodger,
1/12/2009 at 22:33
haha blowing your own trumpet there mate?!
Good result considering we had 5 kids in, De Laet, Wellbeck, Macheda, Gibson and Obertan all played well and great experience. Just think about the experience these lads are getting when other teams are putting out full strength premiership line ups
Into the semi's
Clearly the comments below are mainly from armchair supporters, well lads cancel your sky subscriptions, put up with the rain and get to the ground to actually see the game.
One main difference last night was the ability of Berbatov to hold the ball up and bring players around him into the game.
Big Bad wesley was awesome and Kuszczak showed signs of composure, how anyone can criticise a young guy like De Laet is beyond belief (especially when the numpty includes the Kings name in his signature).
Still no sign of the Dunce from Witslow I am thinking of buying a new black suit as I really do fear the worst (or would it be for the best???)
not a bad performance at all especially when you consider Spurs were almost at full strength...both Gibson goals were well taken and Anderson was back to somewhere near his old self....we need to keep him playing!
We where a little bit lucky, we had not a lot of chanses and Tottenham could easaly had a better result, I must say i liked to see Bale i tottenham what a talent he have,he was like Evra in the attacking and neutrilised obertan in the defence he could have been a fine back up to Evra for manu.
Anderson and gibson was very good, they where not dominating the miedfield but they did their things good
I would like to see Tosic more, Manu are missing a good free and corner kicker, it is frustrating at times to se how bad manu take those oppurtunities ,Giggs is good but he is not always playing
At least Stuart Mathieson has not used the term 'Fergie's Kids' in his report unlike some of the daily's.
The only United teenager who played from their own Academy was Danny Welbeck 19.
Although the manager keeps touting Welbeck to gatecrash the England world cup team,I personally can not see where he is coming from,he looks no better than Frazier Cambell did at the same age.