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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM
After receiving a gift from God in the earlier fixtures,
United fluffed their chance to catch up on rare duck egg
style slip ups by Chelski & the Bindippers after for
probably the 1st time in history, the so called big 4 all
failed to find the net in their respective fixtures.
Oh an yes the mighty Arsenal who were "back" after beating
United only a fortnight ago were again hossed only this time
3-0 by Manchester City as the Gunners season continues to
explode in their face.
With Liverpool being held by Fulham & Chelski continuing
their poor record at Stamford Bridge (Won 3, Drawn 3, Lost
1) United were given an immense opportunity to take full
advantage of the slip if victory was obtained at Villa Park.
However Martin O'Neill's Villa set out their defensive stall
early, opting to play Gabriel Agbonlahor up front alone with
a 5 man midfield whose job it was to stifle & play for a
draw & maybe sneak a goal using the pace of Gabriel
Agbonlahor.
SAF had the luxury of recalling Carlos Tevez & Wayne Rooney
into United's attack with Carrick & Ryan Giggs the men in
the middle & Park & Ronaldo on the flanks. JOS picked
up the the right full back slot in the absence of Brown &
Neville & Rio Ferdinand returned to United's line up.
IN the opening stages lone front man Gabriel Agbonlahor shot
early straight at EVDS after a Luke Young free-kick was
flicked on by Laursen & Cristiano Ronaldo hammered a
powerful shot resulting in United arch nemesis of goal
keepers Brad Friedel saving well as he always does.
Stand in full back Nigel Reo-Coker tested EVDS from 20 yards
after a powerful run & as the game wore on Villa sat were
comfortable sitting back and letting United take possession
at the same time keeping disciplined with their 5 man
midfield always prepared to work & defend as time & time
again Villa kept up to 9 men behind the ball slowly choking
United's central midfield of Carrick & Giggs.
Ji Sung Park always matching the work rate of Villa midfield
almost gave the United the lead after Ronaldo had sent the
South Korean through, but a combination of a perfect Ashley
Young tackle & a delay in shooting from United winger, took
the ball off Parks toe before he could let fly.
After Ronaldo had
fouled Petrov a resulting Villa free kick was taken by James
Milner who hit a tame low drive wide not troubling EVDS
before United's Park was again in the thick of the goalmouth
action as Rooney's right wing cross travelled across the
goal only for Park at full stretch to miss by centimeters,
when any touch would have steered the ball into the net.
The visitors continued with pressure as Vidic headed wide
from a Giggs free-kick & keeping United at bay with their
tactics Villa held on until half time.
What ever O'Neill
had said at the interval sparked Villa into a short period
of attacking life when Ashley Young's cross almost ended in
the back of the net after the Big Dutch Stickman saved
nicely after having to reajust his shape. On the back
foot for the 1st time in the game United creaked & groaned
as Villa
pressured United with crosses into the box with the most
telling resulting in a Nemanja Vidic block from the
tragically Ginger Ex Chelski midfielder Steve Sidwell.
The main talking point of the match came next as with his
burning pace, Agbonlahor aiming goalward gave Vidic a torrid
time & with a tangle & some shirt pulling, (then a dive once
he had established he was in the box) Agbonlahor fell to the
ground claiming a penalty kick, but Referee Chris Foy waived
play on and as replays showed Vidic had indeed won the ball.
As has been the
tale of United so far this season a missed chance in front
of goal was again the difference maker & thorn in the side
after Michael Carrick supplied a fantastic ball &
Goalscoring chance to Rooney, The White Pele beating the
Villa defence but with more composure he may well have given
United the three points, but instead venomously smashed his
shot inches wide from 5 yards out.
With twenty
minutes left & many United fans screaming for any sort of
presence to support our over run midfield, the first signs
of a disgruntled Carlos Tevez was on show as TV pictures
showed his displeasure in being justly substituted for Nani
on 70 minutes, however SAF was at least twenty minutes too
late in introducing Anderson as with only 10 minutes left
the Brazilian was finally fielded but only because Ronaldo
had picked up a knock & couldn't continue.
Villa saw a
Ashley Young' shot saved again by the perfect EVDS & then
almost took the three points when Vidic cleared after good
work by James Milner.
With so much hype in the build up to the game if Aston Villa
could indeed break into the top four, your reporters opinion
after this match is that a team can not win the title
playing so defensively at home....but and by no means to
dismiss Villa on the basis of one game, the Midlanders in my
humble opinion have one of the best managers in the game
today but need to play more attacking football in their
house & on this evidence they just fell short.
What's your
opinion on the Match?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW |
