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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM
A comfortable 3-0 away victory saw Manchester United beat 10
man Southampton & book their place in the 4th round of the
FA Cup against Harry Redknapp's Spurs @ Old Trafford.
Goals from youngsters Danny Welbeck, Nani & Darron Gibson
were more than enough to take United into the next phase of
the competition.
After the game settled Southampton rather than sitting back
forced the game to United at the same time leaving gaps at
the back as Dimitar Berbatov with an intelligent pass sent
Ryan Giggs into the penalty area but the veterans shot went
wildly high & wide.
Nani playing one of his better games after a run this season
of average form & woeful crossing then worked the Saints
Captain & Keeper Kelvin Davis into an excellent save diving
to his right, Anderson then forced Davis into action after
he save for a second time tipping the Brazilian's shot over
the bar.
With the visitors threatening more regularly JOS met a Nani
corner which Davis saved but the Saints luck had run out as
Welbeck nodded the save into an empty net from close range.
The impressive
John O'Shea who attacked & defended throughout the game then
slipped an excellent ball through to Berbatov but his shot
was blocked & went wide as United began to dominate.
The brilliant
Berbatov combined shortly after with Michael Carrick & after
running on the Bulgarians pass only a world class block from
Veteran Chris Perry denied the Bulgarians 1st FA Cup goal in
a United shirt.
The game then
changed for the worse when Southampton's Paterson shown a
straight Red card for a lunging tackle on Nemanja Vidic,
after being let off with light cautions from Mike Riley on
previous occasions for hefty tackles the Saints Striker can
have no argument on his Red card after viewing the replay.
Before the end of the half United almost added to their lead
after another fine save saw Davis thwart a Danny Welbeck
shot.
Three minutes
into the second half United hammered a vicious nail into the
coffin of the Saints chances when United were awarded a
penalty from a handball by David McGoldrick.
After Lancashire fouled Welbeck on the left of the penalty
area, Nani with his free kick saw McGoldrick raise his
arm above his head & Mike Riley pointed to the spot after
deciding McGoldrick had committed a foul in the penalty
area.
As TV replays
showed the penalty was maybe harsh as McGoldrick's head
struck the ball as he turned sideways, but with his arm
raised the decision from Riley was made harder by the fact
he had raised his arms.
Nani converted
the penalty with ease sending the home keeper the wrong way,
fortunate really as the penalty was hit low & weak.
More saves from
Davis came as he tipped another United chance over the
crossbar, this time from Welbeck.
Almost on the hour SAF gave a run out to Darron Gibson and
Rodrigo Possebon for Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick .
Southampton's Andrew Surman attempted to wake EVDS from his
slumber with a speculative shot from thirty yards which was
aimed straight at the Dutchman.
SAF then replaced Welbeck for Wayne Rooney & soon after the
White Pele almost netted after once again a crafty pass from
Berbatov and in a Opponents MOTM performance Davis saved &
gathered from Rooney's feet.
With the luxury of a 1 man advantage United knocked the ball
around with very little resistance from the Saints & more
attacks were increasing the chance of another goal until
Gibson belted a shot into the net from inside the box after
work from Rooney.
United's last sub in a short but extremely busy thirty
minute cameo at the death almost scored a spectacular long
range effort bur his volley was saved by Davis.
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Welbeck (69 mins),
