FA Cup 5th round
Pride Park, Derby, 16.30pm GMT, Sunday 15th February 2009.
Attendance: 32,103

Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.

Manchester United moved forward another step in the FA Cup with a 4-1 beating of Derby County @ Pride Park, goals from 4 different players, 2 in each half defeated a spirited Derby team who replied with a consolation headed goal from Miles Addison in the second half.

The view

A spectacular Nani trademark, a 20 yard volley from Darron Gibson in the 1st half coupled with an early second half header from Ronaldo was capped off in fine style by a place Danny Welbeck shot inside the last tem minutes capped off a fine display.

SAF saw an opportunity to rest key players with, Carrick, Brown, Berbatov, Vidic, Rooney, Tevez, Neville, EVDS, Scholes all entirely rested & used the game as a bonus for returning players such as Rio, Patrice Evra, Johnny Evans & Rafael.

In the early going Derby's keeper Bywater was busy saving from Nani & then smartly saving from Ji-sung Park as United began to gel.

The home side saw penalty claims waived away shortly after when Rob Hulse tried the old "Rollerskate" move on Rio Ferdinand in United's penalty area, a move which saw Ferdinand react angrily toward Hulse as he accused the Derby forward of "going down too easily".

Best Away Pub in Derby

With the game seeing United threaten mostly it was no surprise when the visitors took the lead through what has came to be a trademark Nani effort, after a Giggs pass the Portuguese starlet took the ball from a wide left position to the edge of the box, before creating himself space before showing a quick silver release as once again his trademark shot ended up into the back of the net with superfluous power & accuracy leaving Bywater a virtual spectator.

Finding it difficult to get any sort of foothold in midfield, Derby struggled against United's Darron & Darren who went about their business limiting Derby to only a Commons free-kick that Ben Foster eventually gathered with ease.

Next came the talking point of the game as Ryan Giggs flicked a ball onto Ronaldo who ran clear before beating Bywater for what seemed a goal, as United were celebrating Linesman & referee alike were conferring before the goal was disallowed as apparently the linesman had not noticed the touch by Ryan Giggs.

What happened next was perhaps a strange twist of fate as United were then awarded a goal when on another day it would easily have indeed been cancelled as Rafael in an offside position interfering with play blinded Bywater's view as Darron Gibson volleyed home from a deflected Ronaldo free kick.

The 11 times winners soon after the break took their haul of goals to three when a Ryan Giggs corner was met with power by the head of Cristiano Ronaldo who slipped in at the near post beating Gary Teale and making himself the 10th joint top scorer of all time in United history in the FA Cup
(Editor: Ronaldo is tied with Paul Scholes on 13 goals).

At 3-0 Derby's keeper Bywater kept the score from turning ugly for his side after making brilliant saves from Ronaldo with clever work from Ryan Giggs & another fine save from The Rams stopper foiled Darren Fletcher from his initial save.

Derby who have a habit of scoring against United did rally after the third goal was scored as Robbie Savage caught United knapping with a quickly taken free kick with Miles Addison beating Foster with a header taking the deficit to two goals.

Derby continued to search for an answer as the game turned scrappy & Gary Teale forced Ben Foster to save well before goalscorer Addison headed wide when in a excellent position.

United then unmercifully nailed the final nail in the fight back as Fletcher & the brilliant Ryan Giggs combined to picked out Danny Welbeck who with a composed & first-rate finish slammed the farmers gate in the face of the Rams, capping off a fine display of Manchester United's strength in depth.


 

Watey's Tight Tracksuit, Grey Goatee's & Its the same same seat again for Tanner.

A Big Up goes to the Sims Coaches drivers Dianne & the slow old geezer as well as the following specially deserving &  selected people with no pockets to line or Human rights infringements cases/sulks.

Niffy, Mike H, Patty, Kev Killen, Derek, Peter, Steve Abbott, Neal Fearon, Tanner, Craig Adams, Watey, Toddy, Grant from Cockermouth.

Grant from Manchester.

Simon Curwen.


It was all too much for your Editor who needed shut eye.

Tanners ticket was the same for The Carling Cup Semi as it was for the FA Cup match!!

 


Mr Watey of Dean, Cumbria said his tracksuit is "comparable in its own way to Manchester United's tight defence.

Please note the following pictures have not been Doctored in anyway.

 MUFCINFO's MAN OF THE MATCH