Old Trafford, Manchester, 15.00pm GMT, Saturday 1st November 2008.
Attendance: 75,398

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


A scary seven goal thriller saw Manchester United finally see off Hull & ride out winners at Old Trafford on Saturday, the Reds at one point were 4-1 up & looking to embarrass New Premiership side Hull until that is, a late fight back saw the Champions hang on to take the three points.  Another brace from Ronaldo & goals from Carrick & Vidic had the Reds 4-1 ahead until Mendy & a penalty by Ex Bitter Blue Giovanni pulled Hull within a goal if drawing level.

In strange day in the Premiership which saw title rivals Arsenal drop three points against Stoke City and lose lose key players for next weeks clash against the Reds coupled with the bindippers losing in the 5.30pm late kick off to Spurs, both United & Chelsea capitalized on the slip ups of the other big two & also saw early pace setting Liverpool knocked off the top spot.

(Editor: lets just see how many Liverpool shirts are in your local town this week eh!!!)

SAF's starting XI saw Gary Neville & EVDS return along with Wayne Rooney as United's side had a look of balance and pace as Carrick & Anderson took the midfield centrally with Ronaldo & Nani pouring forward at any opportunity supplying Rooney & Berbatov.

With less than 5 minutes gone United took the lead after Neville floated a ball to Ronaldo who was running into the Hull penalty area, with a flicked ball later, Ronaldo found Berbatov on the outside of the box & he snapped a cross-cum shot toward goal that Ronaldo controlled, turned and struck a low shot passed Myhill.

With a fairytale start to their Premiership life, Hull give the neutral fan the impression that come next May Premiership status will still be on the cards for following season & despite going 1-0 down so early, the Tigers came roaring back into the match shortly before Geovanni struck a high free kick over the bar & Ronaldo threatened.

Berbatov treated the crowd to some of his considerable array of skills after a neat turn, lob & touch left Boateng before a pass sent Nani on his way down the left, Nani crossed a dangerous ball for Ronaldo but the Hull defence matched the cross with a clearing header.

Hull then equalized with a free kick set piece when Nemanja Vidic was adjudged to have fouled Marlon King, Andy Dawson from the right delivered a ball into the crowd and Cousin beat 4 United defenders to get the vital touch which beat the full stretch EVDS.

An interesting point to note is that when the referee had blown his whistle to allow the free kick to be taken Hull's Dean Marney picked the ball up with his hands (a hand ball surely) & placed it back down on the pitch for Andy Dawson, is this allowed?, or was it a foul, handball & a United free kick?

Six minutes later United restored their one goal cushion after a swift counter attack had Berbatov assist for the second time in the match feeding Michael Carrick who struck the ball with his left foot in off & against the same post Ronaldo had earlier for United's first goal.

Rooney found the net again for United but had his goal disallowed for offside & went close with a header, but the England forward was left majorly frustrated as unmarked, Ronaldo went for glory after it has to be said Berbatov provided a Hollywood style pass to the on rushing winger.

Rooney was all arms flailing & angry that Ronaldo had not played him in as Boaz Myhill's palms were stung by the fierce drive.

Rooney then won a corner for the Reds & Nani delivering a fine example of how a corner should be taken had his ball met by who else but Ronaldo as the Portuguese forward nodded home for goal number 99 of his Manchester United career.

Ronaldo searching for another hat trick was fed shortly after the break by Anderson & with acres of space raced toward goal but hesitated just too long, long enough as when he readied himself to pull the trigger Kamil Zayatte stuck out a foot blocking his shot for a corner.  From the resulting corner Wayne Rooney mimicked Nani's excellent delivery for the last goal by finding Vidic in the six yard box, the Serb volleyed in from close range for United's 4th as the Reds looked out of sight & a certain bet to add to their tally of four and heaping more misery on Hull City.

SAF then gave Tevez an opportunity as he replaced Nani, and with some debate later Rooney moved out into a wide position for the rest of the game.

Hull then made it 4-2 as a deep ball saw Bernard Mendy outjump Patrice Evra, Mendy then finished well lofting the ball over the on rushing Dutch Stickman, most spectators in Old Trafford had thought that Vidic had cleared off the line but the Linesman was correct in his judgment as a stunned & quiet Old Trafford came to terms with the goal.

Rooney still searching for a goal, tested Myhill to the max after Tevez & Berbatov interchanged, the Argentine crossed and Rooney on the far side of goal collected, made himself some space & drove a powerful shot straight at Myhill. who parried the shot away from danger.

Mendy who from this showing should be on the pitch for Hull at every occasion & not a substitute as today, found himself in a position to run from the left at United's defence & as he approached United's penalty area, dashed into the box with Rio Ferdinand shielding the attack.

A tangle of legs later Ferdinand caught the impressive Hull substitute & the referee rightly so awarded the penalty which Giovanni just and so dispatched.

With United now feeling uncomfortable as Hull roared back into the match the game was threatening to boil over as in a short space of time Rooney was booked along with Mendy & Tevez, but United deservingly held on for all three points, at the same time moving up the table to third place.
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