review: west ham united 2 v 1 MANCHESTER UNITED

Article by Mark Graham, Stats Nerd
Match Review
West Ham United 2 v 1 Manchester United, Boleyn Ground, 15.00pm, Saturday 28th December 2007.
Goals: West Ham United: Ferdinand (77), Upson (82)  Manchester United: Ronaldo (14).
Attendance: 34,966

United sank back down to 2nd place in the Premiership title race after a poor performance saw the Reds crash to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham United even though United took an early lead through who else but, Cristiano Ronaldo.  SAF summed the whole match to perfection "I have no complaints. We were beaten by the better team. We were not nearly up to our normal performance. 

Bang on SAF, United were poor & West Ham totally deserved at the very least a draw taking three points in the process to weak defending on the Reds part.

The common cold virus had made victims out of Carrick & Rooney and SAF in a rethink fielded Owen Hargreaves & Darren Fletcher in midfield with Giggs & Ronaldo out wide & Saha in for Rooney.

West Ham started tenaciously winning several "scraps" seeming hungrier as United dressed in Black seemed more casual & the home side almost took a very early lead as both Hayden Mullins & Mark Noble both went within a whisker opening the scoring after Mullins hit the bar & Noble only having to shoot into an open net failed miserably.

Not getting to grips with the game at all, United then scored against the run of play after Louis Saha gathered & found Ryan Giggs on the left, Giggs then crossed a perfect ball and as he flashed past the West Ham defenders, Ronaldo met the ball with a powerful header into the net.

The Hammers clearly not put off by the opening goal and were it not from a great tip over save from Tomasz Kuszczak could have equalised through a long range Solano effort.

United then saw a golden effort nullified due to a poor touch from Ryan Giggs after the winger was sent clean through.

In the second half Solano, one of the more productive Hammers was replaced shortly after missing a free-kick by John Pantsil, Scott Parker who was relishing and arguably winning the battle with Fletcher & Hargreaves in midfield was subbed due to injury by eventual hero Anton Ferdinand.

With West Ham winning in most key areas except the most important, finding a goal, they were soon to be punished as Ex Red Jonathan Spector's arm outstretched in the penalty area struck the ball & referee Mike Dean awarded the Reds a spot kick.

As usual these days up stepped Ronaldo, only to blaze his effort poorly wide to the left side of Robert Green's post.

Feeding off the fact of the missed penalty, this stirred up the Hammers more so, especially the crowd, who justifiably so were sent into raptures after a spell of intense pressure had United creaking, Little Ferdinand Anton would claim the equaliser & earn piss taking rights toward his big brother after Anton took full advantage of poor marking & nodded home Noble's corner as the Hammers claimed a deserved leveller.

Still keeping the pressure on United but only waiting 5 minutes for this goal, Mathew Upson again unmarked met a Noble free kick after beating the United defenders to the punch, Upson from his header watched the ball sail over United's keeper into the net for the winner.

Fletcher & Hargreaves???, I wasn't a fan of Butt & Keane playing together??
No creation in midfield, why wasn't Anderson played in this game & Fletcher kept for Birmingham?

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United's Man of the Match
Hargreaves kept himself busy in a hard game, tackling & getting his foot in several times, his tireless work rate was excellent.

MUFC.COM's Reaction
Well were not top anymore, but 2 points behind and some key players about to make a return, makes the New Year & rest of the season all the more exciting.

Was our prediction correct?
If Ronaldo had scored maybe......but No!! We said 2-0. MUFC INFO 3 v 24 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
Cristiano Ronaldo's 48th & Premiership goal of his United career & 68th goal overall.

SAF's 87th Premiership defeat.

Darren Fletcher's 100th competitive league appearance of his United career.

Ryan Giggs Countdown
Sir Bobby Charlton =753 appearances
Ryan Giggs             =725 appearances

28 competitive Games left to eclipse the All Time Record Set by Sir Bobby Charlton

United's Next Match
Tuesday 1st January 2008 against Birmingham City in the Premiership @ Old Trafford with a 15.00pm K.O.

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MUFCINFO.COM Reader Feedback

Name: Simon
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Comments: bang on with report mate. was at the game and a piss poor performance all over the field. had a good laugh at half time watching the coppers in the concourse getting soaked!!! see you in Lyon if not before!! (Editor: £80 public order fine for sorting out a Munich dissing Gooner, Keep up the good work kiddo!!!