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This way to the Yorkshires finest Sports
Centre |
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The Metrodome |
Manchester United saw safe passage into the Quarter
Finals of the Carling Cup after defeating Barnsley
2-0 on Tuesday night.
As
expected SAF changed his entire starting 11 from the
pathetic attempt at a game of football that was
Sunday as a youthful & pacy looking side took the
field at Oakwell.
Oldies,
Gary Neville & Wes Brown along with Evans & Fabio
made up the back four with Ben Foster between the
sticks & the one that stumped everyone was SAF's
decision to play Rafael Da Silva in central midfield
with fellow countryman Anderson.
Exciting
French starlet Gabriel Obertan & Danny Welbeck were
wide with Michael Owen & Kiko Macheda up front.
United
pressured the Tykes as early as the fifth minute
after Rafael one-twoed setting up the Frenchman on a
run into the box, upon squaring a cross, Owen's
header was blocked for a corner.
From the
resulting corner delivered by Anderson, Welbeck even
though heavily marked by two Barnsley defenders as
the corner was taken, was then left to nod into the
net for the opener with the easiest of headers.
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A lovely Fireworks display before the match |
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The View |
With Cup
magic still fresh in the mind of the team & fans
alike after beating Liverpool & Chelsea in 2008 the
Yorkshire outfit couldn't have imagined a worse
start.
Almost
adding to his haul of goals so early in his career
Welbeck was then spotted by Anderson when from
almost on the centre spot the Brazilian pinging a
perfect pass onto the toe of Welbeck who controlled
well & blasted a shot at Barnsley keeper Luke Steele
who saved low to his near post.
Luke
Steele again came to the rescue of his team, at the
same time denying Obertan a debut goal after Michael
Owen had slid a ball into the path of the Frenchman.
The only
moan SAF could have had with respect to his players
was when on more than one occasion was marking on
set pieces, for the home sides lack of craft in
build up play was more than made up for when three
headers went too close for comfort for Foster.
As the
half wore on Obertan was the pick of the bunch as
Barnsley could only foul the young winger resulting
in a yellow card for Colace.
But a
timely reminder again came the Reds was when the
Barnsley "Anderson slipped a ball to Bogdanovic who
lashed a perilous cross in front of the United net
which Gary Neville cleared.
Shortly
after the restart Michael Owen fluffed a great
opportunity to double the away sides advantage when
Danny Welbeck from central midfield threaded a ball
into the path of Owen, but the United forward
clearly favouring his right foot made a total botch
of his shot before landing in a heap on the floor.
Not since
listening to the moaning Geordies had your reporter
heard such bleating from a home side and almost
giving the Tykes something of great substance to
crow about a counter attack finished with a shot
from Colace which he could only drag wide.
Welbeck
said his goodbyes as he was subbed for Zoran Tosic,
a regular scorer for his country and the Serbian
almost score for club when his shot just went over
only minutes of having been introduced for Mancunian
Welbeck.
To simply
put it, Michael Owen then gave United breathing room
when he scored a "Owen of Old" type goal when from
nothing Anderson passed to Owen on the left of the
box, a nutmeg later as he sped toward goal & four
Barnsley defenders, he found himself in the box &
placed a off timed shot which befuddled Steele as it
settled into the far corner, a class goal from a
player who needs games.
A "You
scouse Bast*rd" chant from the mindless few was soon
drowned out with "Michael Owen is a Red he hates
Scousers" as the 99% of the away support applauded
the brilliant effort.
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It finally dawned on Gary, that his Dads
call Neville, his sister likes Netball & his
Brothers now a Scouser. |
Shortly
after Captain Gary Neville was shown a straight Red
for a studs up tackle on Adam Hamill, in Neville's
defence it was debateable the intent, by
Merseyside's finest referee flashed the Red, with
Neville in clear disbelief.
Sensing
a possible chance to capitalise Barnsley could
muster much in the form of a goal and ran out the
final portion of the game with a couple of half
chances which fell to Bogdanovic & Anderson of
Barnsley hitting the post with a header.
A big up
goes to the following, Niffy marra, Brian who tells
me he will subscribe, Young Steven Penn & his two
marra's, the gang at the front of the Bus, Brian the
driver & specially selected others.
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Magic Marker pens, 8 hours of work & hey
presto....a labour of Love |
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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.
Welbeck (6), Owen (59).
