Manchester United have got the look of Champions. Okay, maybe they haven’t the consistently memorable eye-catching flamboyance of past Reds title winners.
Maybe there is some magic and invention missing.
But when it comes to sheer grit and determination and having that vital good luck commodity riding sidecar with them, nobody else has Champions stamped on them more indelibly than the Reds at this key stage of the campaign.
Would anyone else have had the mettle with a man down, their Old Trafford unbeaten league record under serious threat, playing within themselves and a makeshift defence propping them up, to still be searching for a winner in the dying minutes?
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That’s what has set the Reds apart in this non-vintage Premier League season.
Nearest rivals Arsenal certainly haven’t got the same vein of fortitude running through their ranks.
The Gunners are in self-destruct mode.
The fragile Londoners do have some resilience, having come from 2-0 down at West Brom to draw 2-2 on Saturday, but when United were poor at the Hawthorns on New Years’ Day, they won!
That’s the difference.
And when you have got Sir Alex Ferguson plucking tactical rabbits out of the hat on a match-by-match basis, as he has done of late, then you are on a winner.
When you take off a poacher to send on a tall craftsman and he poaches the winner then you just know you’ve got the Midas touch.
The previous weekend Fergie had come up with the twin wing threat of Brazilian full-backs Rafael and Fabio to down Arsenal in the FA Cup.
In midweek, he sacrificed his top scorer to stick with Javier Hernandez in Europe against Marseille and the Mexican snapped up two goals to steer United into the Champions League quarter-finals.
He could even afford a little chuckle at Dimitar Berbatov’s expense in the dug-out against the French as the £30.75m striker slumped stoney-faced in his seat while watching the young pretender steal the headlines.
He probably wasn’t much happier on Saturday as, for a third match in a row, he had to start on the bench.
The Bulgarian had probably forgotten what it was like to score, having not hit the target since his brace at Blackpool in January.
But anything Chicharito can do so can Berbatov and when Jussi Jaaskelainen fumbled in the 88th minute the laid-back striker proved the Mexican doesn’t have exclusivity of being in the right place at the right time.
As part of United’s original deal in 2008 when Berbatov signed, they had a one-way option written into the paperwork that the Reds could extend his stay to 2013 – and that’s now looking more and more inevitable.
Interest
The FA must have been hoping this was not a rehearsal for the Wembley Cup final on May 14 as, for most part, it was not the kind of advert the famous competition needs to boost its fading credibility. There was more interest in what was going on in the VIP seats than what little was happening in terms of goal excitement on the pitch.
Firstly, everyone was craning their necks to see how much time Fergie was spending on his telephone hotline to the dugout as he began his five-match touchline ban.
Then eager eyes were trained on the plush seats to see if England boss Fabio Capello and now ex-England captain Rio Ferdinand would engage in conversation.
There was also Douglas Costa sat among the hierarchy and friends.
The 20-year-old Brazilian was once described by Fergie as “probably the best young talent in South America” and has had the new Ronaldinho tag attached to him since starring for Gremio.
He’s been on United’s radar since his teens but moved to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine 14 months ago.
But that looks likely to have just been a convenient stopping off place and his appearance at Old Trafford suggests the exciting attacking midfielder will add to United’s Brazilian stock this summer.
Costa would no doubt have felt pretty confident he will make a big impact on a Reds side lacking that central spark of flair.
He wouldn’t have seen anything against Bolton, nor from the Wanderers, to suggest he couldn’t improve United and succeed in England.
Apart from a couple of decent Wayne Rooney efforts and some Bolton ripostes it was easy to keep a watchful eye on the stands.
United were struggling and when Jonny Evans was sent off after opening up Stuart Holden’s knee with a dangerous, if not malicious, tackle it looked like a single point would be the best bet for the Reds.
But that’s when Lady Luck also turned up on the scene to aid the league leaders.
Wanderers’ sub Matt Taylor will watch, if he dare, re-run after re-run of his dreadful missed header in the 85th-minute and wonder how he turned a golden match-winning chance into an easy catch for Edwin van der Sar.
Jaaskelainen will also peep between his fingers and wonder how, having previously made such bread and butter saves with comfort, he can then manage to fumble Nani’s shot to gift Berbatov the winner.
It was at least a last 15-minute finale of incident that perhaps would ensure a reasonably satisfied audience at Wembley in May after all.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
Manchester United 1 Bolton Wanderers 0: Mathieson's verdict
March 19, 2011
Comments
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i hope this is the last time we see that hopeless&useless evans.
what a great victory this was,i thought we were gonna throw away the points again this season,but thanks to berbatov we just did it!
i really do hope we get all our injured players back after the international break,and if we do then we will have a great chance to win one of the big trophy this season.
i see city trying to nick one the players we are after(pastore)? why cant they find their own players rather go for the ones we are after?
Just when I was beginning to think that we would never score even if we kept playing until the Easter Bunny came on to score Berby saved us. A good response to Evans getting sent off. The only thing we had going for us today was character and that is like an extra two men in games like this. Well done lads.
Could be the most important win of the season.
3 points, is 3 points. well done united. Remember the days when we used to sssshhh if united were about to win the leauge for the first time in 26 years. Now 19 is around the corner sssshhh
tick tock
\0/ United
never a sending off!! again were missing that central midfielder to create going forward. Valencia is making a huge differnce. Thought Evans had a brilliant game till he was sent off.
Wow! That was tough. Great to see Berbatov back. Great to see Arsenal drop points. Fabulous to win a difficult game with ten men! This will be the game we'll look back on as the one that won us our record 19th title (and maybe even a second treble)...
played crap and got the points, thats what it is about.
On the day we clinch the PL title, think back to this day, 19 March 2011. What a finish!!! Man down, depleted line-up, ... Way to take charge, win and hold possession, keep the pressure on (even AFTER Berb's goal). Well done, boys!!!
ON UNITED!
Talk about geting out of jail. The result certainly flattered United who gave a very ordinary performance all round. No life at all today. The central midfield was woeful. Giggs relies too much on his first touch flick passes which invariably don't find their man. Not surprising he doesn't run as much given his age but now and then would be nice. Carrick.. well the less said about him the better. Taxi for Carrick !!!! Why wasn't Park brought on in the second half when we were struggling to create chances ? His enthusiasm alone should have merited a run out. The sooner Fletcher and Anderson are fit the better off we'll be. Let's hope Hargreaves can get a run out and stay fit. We're going to need him now that Evans has gone and dropped us in it even further. Hopefully somebody will be giving him an almighty kick up the backside. We're going to need the upcoming break to get the defence fit again.
Thank goodness West Brom took some points off the Gooners. Pity they couldn't have held on to their lead a bit longer.
OMG i was sitting on the edge all the time
Well done Berba for poaching that goal, i think it will be an all important one too in the run up to the title.
Now i need to calm down .
MOM ummm no idea will have to think about it, in general we were sluggish .
Considering the number of players injured and the suspended Scholes I suppose we must be happy with the scoreline as at this time of the year three points matter most. For all that's been said about the weakened defence it's our midfield that was flat and devoid of any creativity. Carrick as bad as usual with his passing, Giggs running out of energy after such a demanding season, Valencia not yet back to his best and Nani not playing on his preferred right wing it was obvious that Rooney and Hernandez would not be getting the right support. I thought Rooney was excellent once more. As for Evans I believe the least said the better although he did perform a little better than usual. For me, he's not United class and must be moved. Fergie is always complaining about international breaks but every United fan will agree that this time it is most welcome!
Clearly a tired and not completely healthy team..a game won on guts and fumes....hopefully the type of game that wins titles. Rooney was outstanding again and the back four held their own against a front line that habitually gives the best defences a hard time. That said, I'm sure the moaners and groaners (otherwise known as the wilmslows will be out in full force) with their criticisms.
I am absoulutely buzzing after ths MASSIVE win.5 point's clear at the TOP OF THE LEAGUE, Semi-Finals of the FA Cup & Quarter Finals of the Champions League, and now after the International break we will have Vidic, Rafael, Anderson, Fletcher & HARGREAVES back.Added to the returns of Valencia, Park & Owen, we are in superb shape for the rest of the season.Very, very happy and never before have i been so glad of a 2 week International break so we can get our player's back fit.
What a great way to start the weekend! for starters, I'd like to personally thank Mr Manual Almunia for his blunder.
Anyways, that was an incredible end to the match, a man down and United still pressed on with vigor and purpose. United have got a pretty tough run in, but with that winning mentality and with arsenals lack of confidence it's looking pretty interesting.
what a great result.we played better with ten men.well done.i think evans did us a favour.hope this is his last game for us,he is a liability.smalling is getting better each game.switching nanni and valencia worked well.missed scholes in the middle.giggs did very little.once we get our injured players back we will be ok .cant wait for city and chelsea.come on united
Great win - especially as it was with 10 men and our nearest rivals Arsenal lost 2 points. Best player undoubtedly was Wayne Rooney. Worst player was Ryan Giggs. I keep wondering if we ever had a player who gives so many misplaced passes as today's version of RG. I would play Obertan or even Bebe' rather than him. Sorry!
Before the bitters come on here talking smack,Evans was sent off for his tackle on Holden,i guess he needed the three games rest.
Nerves shredded !
Fantastic win against a confident physical Bolton . The drive and will to win after we went down to 10 is what sets us apart from the rest , lead by the tireless Rooney easily MOM again .
Game may have been so different had the stonewall pen been given after 10 mins but then again may not have had the adrenalin pumping buzz of another late winner , you can`t beat it can you . . . .GET IN THERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Never a sending off for me , studs were leading but for no other reason than the lad was at full stretch , foot was low and he was going for the ball which was there to be won , he may even have got a bit of it .
For once international break may work in our favour and wouldnt be surprised if a couple of the boys are nursing knocks and kept back in Manchester , too right as well !!
Well done boys , brilliant victory under the circumstances .
It's funny, i always thought we were playing with ten men when Gibson and evans are on the pitch anyway.
3 points will do the arse droppin points,not a bad day at the office..BELEIVE...
very important win especially arsenal dropping 2 points ...a draw tomorrow between chelsea and man city would cap off the weekend. rooney playing with class again.
We don't make it easy do we!? And there's another 3 months to go! Vital win and hopefully we can relax a bit and start getting those injuries sorted out. Thnk goodness BW spurned their chances - this could be a key day!
Who dares wins.
Who defends gets a draw or loses.
If our Blue "friends" had seem themselves go down to 10 men at 0-0 Mancini's answer would have been to bring an extra defender on to hold on for a point.
That's the difference between the 2 teams, a difference that makes us winners and brings us trophies.
YOU CAN'T BUY THAT!!!
losing evans was a godsend it woke us up and we were the better team for the last 25 minutes
evans red caqrd was deserved
if evra's leg had have been planted the bolton player would have broke it not even afoul awarded.
just what do we have to do to get penalty. the bolton player when down arm oustretched stopped the ball reaching the goal.
do not think the ref gave us a thing just how many fouls is davies allowed to commit without receiving a booking.
well done the lads we were knackered in the 2nd half but we did enough to win just.
valencia played a blinder again