review: Aston villa 1 v 4 MANCHESTER UNITED

Article by Mark Graham, Stats Nerd
Match Review
Aston Villa 1 v 4 Manchester United, Villa Park, Birmingham, 17.15pm, Saturday 20th October 2007.
Goals: Aston Villa: Agbonlahor (12)   Manchester United: Rooney (36), (44), Ferdinand (45), Giggs (75).
Attendance: 42,640

United were forced to come from behind as the Reds scored 4 times for the second straight league match, goals from Wayne rooney & two dubious strikes which were credited to Ryan Giggs & Rio Ferdinand were more than enough for a rampant United side who played slick matching their new black away strip, SAF said The performance was absolutely superb, probably our best of the season." "The first half in particular was absolutely excellent.  "It's been disappointing we haven't scored more goals and that was a big surprise considering the players we've had available."

SAF left out Ronaldo & Vidic with the winger left on the bench after picking up a knock after the midweek game in Borat's home Country of Kazakhstan, Pique filled in as right back with Wes Brown partnering Rio at the back & a midfield engine room of Anderson & Scholes.

The trend continued for the Reds as the early goal went to Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor after United fell asleep at the back, Martin Laursen untouched on the right crossed a ball to Ashley Young who fed Agbonlahor and his glancing header beat Edwin Van der Sar with suspicions of offside as Luke Moore appeared seemingly afoul.

United playing well & moving the ball with ease almost equalised with a stunning passage of build up play from Scholes, Rooney and Tevez before "The Apache" saw an effort saved by Scott Carson (Editor: Scott Carson was born in the same Town I live & he supports United.)

It didn't take long before the game was level as Nani deputising for Ronaldo fed a teasing ball across the face of goal, hesitance from several Villa defenders especially Zat Knight saw Rooney capitalise and sweep the ball home for a well deserved leveller.

More excellent build up play from Tevez then contributed to United taking the lead and the Little Argentine gave the crowd a treat in the form of a Hollywood pass with the outside of the boot splitting the Villa defence before Rooney scored again beating Carson with style.  However United weren't quite finished & on the stroke of half time, Pique saw his headed corner cleared off the line by Young, Rio Ferdinand then scuffed a weak effort goal bound resulting in Garner slicing ala secret double agent Phillip Neville last season in the 4-2 game at Goodison into his own net.

Villa almost pulled one back with Agbonlahor when he beat Van der Sar, but his shot was cleared off the line by Gerard Pique.

Reo-Coker who doesn't really have a good disciplinary record was then booked twice in the space of 8 minutes & the game was truly dead when six minutes after the midfielder's exit, Scott Carson joined his team mate for an early bath after bringing down the brilliant Tevez as he rounded the Villa keeper.

Martin O'Neal then brought on Stuart Taylor and the reserve keeper first act was to save Rooney's penalty after guessing correctly.

United then controlled the game until the end as Rooney hit the bar and Tevez made Taylor work, Ryan Giggs then added insult to injury as he entered the box from the right struck a shot which Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen deflected into the net for 4-1.

United's Man of the Match
Wayne Rooney glittered as did Tevez, however Rooney scored twice, hit the bar & missed a penalty.

MUFC.COM's Reaction
8 goals in two games & a missing our two best players Ronaldo & Vidic, and Neville, Saha, Park, Hargreaves & Carrick still to return.

Was our prediction correct?
No!! We said 2-1. MUFC INFO 2 v 11 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
SAF's 374th victory of his Premiership career.
Wayne Rooney's 43rd & 45th Premiership goals of his United career & 63rd & 64th goal overall.
Rio Ferdinand's 5th Premiership goal of his United career & 5th goal overall.
Ryan Giggs's 99th Premiership goals of his United career & 141st goals overall.

Paul Scholes's 381st competitive League appearance of his United career.

Ryan Giggs Countdown = 40 competitive Games left to eclipse the All Time Record Set by Sir Bobby Charlton.

United's Next Match
Tuesday 23rd October 2007 against FC Dynamo Kyiv  in the UCL at NSC Olympiyskiy Stadium - Kiev with a 20:45 CET (20:45 local time).

MUFCINFO.COM Reader Feedback
Name:
Email:
 Comments: