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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM
A quite brilliant goal from Derby's Kris Commons was more
than enough to beat Manchester United in the teams 1st leg
semi-final of the Carling Cup, in front newly appointed
manager Nigel Clough Derby totally outplayed United & fully
deserved their victory.
If current form is anything to go by Son of Old Big heed
must be licking his lips in anticipation of managing a team
which on this night saw World Champions Manchester United a
well beaten team.
SAF had several stars on the field & a strong bench as
Kuszczak Rafael, Scholes, Anderson, Gibson, Tevez & Welbeck
all started.
United's big gun bench consisted of Rooney, Ronaldo,
Carrick, Fletcher & Giggs with youngsters Ben Amos & Rodrigo
Possebon.
Derby who at point of kick off had won only once in 9 league
games started the fixture like a team possessed with "one
night only" manager academy boss David Lowe looking on a
proud man Derby rattled United beginning a night to remember
for Rams fans.
In the 1st five minutes
Davies forced a save from Tomasz Kuszczak and after the fell
into his path again United Captain Nemanja Vidic threw
himself blocking his dangerous effort.
Barely giving United a moment to breath in a whirlwind first
few minutes,
Mile Sterjovski had a shot cleared off the line by Jonny Evans,
Derby's Andy Todd found the roof of the net after a feeble Kuszczak punch fell at his feet
as Derby could smell blood.
As has been the case in a thousand games of football before
involving MUFC, a sustained spell of pressure would surely
come from the visitors' & chances & possession would be in
abundance, however Derby had different plans as SAF's 4-3-3
didn't click all night long due to dogged persistence & a
magnificent performance on the Rams behalf.
Unable to any
sort of offence going for much of the 1st half Derby took
advantage of their form when on the half-hour mark
Scottish International Commons ran at United defence as they
backed away & with left foot & from 25 yards whizzed a shot
past Kuszczak to take the lead.
After pummeling Championship outfit Southampton in the FA
Cup the visiting United side were expected to do the same
here but something wasn't quite on this night as almost
every United player failed to live up to normal
expectations.
Feckless in front
of the goal in the 1st half United failed to force former
Red
Roy Carroll into a single save as Derby defended well
keeping United out of any sort of passing, attacking rhythm.
With the 1st half
gone & one to forget for any United fans, the second wasn't
much better either as Derby surprisingly continued to
dictate the tempo of the match, with the game wearing on and
Derby showing much commitment it would have been correct to
say that "burn out" would happen at some point & the Reds
would begin to dominate, but not this night, and with only
30 minutes remaining SAF had saw enough & sent on the
cavalry.
With 30 minutes
left Rooney & Ronaldo were introduced for Scholes & Welbeck
as SAF, who at full time expressed his shock at the fact the
defeat only added to a one goal deficit rolled his dice
hoping to salvage something from the tie.
Briefly sparking
United's weak looking attack, Ronaldo shot wide & later went
close with a strong free kick which Roy Carroll could only
watch rooted to the spot before finally feeling relived
Ronaldo's free kick had went wide of the post.
Derby almost took
an insurmountable lead to Old Trafford for the second leg as
the impressive Commons outclassed Jonny Evans on the right and
after releasing a shot at the United goal, Kuszczak spilled
the ball into the path of the onrushing Hulse who could be
made to rue such an easy miss when the club next meet Jan
20th after inexpiably skiing his shot over the bar from
close range.
A very bad day at the office for United with some poor
performances but all credit to Derby who played a fantastic
game of football.
What's your
opinion?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW |
Commons (30 mins).
