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 Article
by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter
@ MUFCINFO.COM
United started the defence of their Premiership title in a spluttering
fashion sharing the points with a deserving Newcastle side, Obafemi
Martins opened the scoring for the visitors with a rare Darren
Fletcher goal being United's only reply in a game which strongly
highlighted United's need for a striker.
SAF's options before the game were further decimated as Carlos Tevez
flew to Argentina due to a family bereavement leaving Fraizer Campbell
partnering Wayne Rooney in the Reds attack.
Early in the game United were awarded a free kick after new Argie
Barcode signing Coloccini had brought down Fraizer Campbell outside
the box, Ryan Giggs struck the ensuing effort goal bound, only for it
to be blocked by the hand of James Milner but referee Mike Riley waved
play on, much to the anguish of the home side.
The early
stages of the game were end to end with the home side making but not
taking chances, Shay Given made the possibly the luckiest save of the
season after Evra tackled well & fed Wayne Rooney on the right, Rooney
with the outside of his boot crossed for Campbell who headed goal
bound, only for the ball to strike Given squarely on the head then
away from danger.
Newcastle then made their own bid for a
penalty as the impressive Jonas
Gutierrez made a probing
run into United box, met by Vidic just as he entered the penalty box
the Serbian collided with Newcastle's new signing with referee Riley
again not interested in the penalty claims.
Given again showed his
class as he made an impressive double save, Nicky Butt gave away
possession to Campbell in a dangerous area, Campbell then fed Fletcher
on the overlap and the Scot filling in on the right wing, crossed a
ball into the penalty area, Giggs miscued the cross before Given saved
Rooney's goal bound shot, the rebound fell to Scholes who was again
thwarted by the Newcastle keeper.
Newcastle then took a shock
lead as slack marking by Darren Fletcher saw
Obafemi Martins power
a bullet of a header from a
Milner corner, it took but
two minutes for the game to be level as Fletcher atoned for his error.
Steven Taylor was receiving treatment to a knock he had picked up from
the opening goal when Giggs crossed from the left,
Jonas
Gutierrez cleared the
imminent danger only for a home side throw in, Paul Scholes then found
Evra & with Giggs pushing forward the Welsh veteran crossed an even
better ball than his last attempt into the box for Fletcher to finish
well past Given in the visitors goal.
Michael Carrick was then
replaced due to an ankle injury (Editor: three weeks out at time of
press) by JOS and as the game started again so did another chance
for the Reds foiled by good keeping by the visitors Irish keeper.
Evra teasing on the left crossed a ball which Beye almost scoring an
own goal saw his keeper rescue his team again with an instinctive
save, the ball came out to Scholes who smash a poor effort away from
goal and on to Rooney's head before going wide.
In the second half Campbell
again went close after a twisting move saw him find space & shoot with
his left foot as Given dived to his left.
James Milner then smashed a shot high over the bar after it was
deflected by Scholes & clearly not learning from the 1st time, the
home side had a lucky escape as Martins was left unmarked by JOS
fortunately only to head over the bar.
Ryan Giggs (hamstring) was then replaced by the 1st of what would be
two Brazilian debutants as Rodrigo Possebon entered the game.
Woodwork would foil United on the next occasion as Vidic struck the
bar with a downward header before falling awkwardly, the Serb scared
most in Old Trafford as he seemingly had hurt himself only to return
unscathed.
Rafael Da Silva then made it the second Samba Debut as he replaced
Frazier Campbell playing on the right side of United's attack.
The Moira Stewart looking Brazilian then almost won a penalty in the
dying seconds as whilst on the attack was clipped by Nicky Butt just
outside the box, Wayne Rooney then frustratingly wasted the free kick
with an off target attempt, leaving almost the entire British media
wanting to make sweet love to Chelski.
TOP THAT CIDER
With a warning label reading "Could Contain Apples" Mr William
Martin of Maryport beat hands down every opposing Cider drink on the
Jam Eaters bus as his Tesco Value Cider destroyed all comers.
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