Match Review
Sheffield United 1 v 2 Manchester United, Bramall Lane, 15.00 Saturday 18th November 2006.
Goals: Sheffield United: Gillespie (13) - Manchester United: Rooney (30), (75).
Attendance: 32,584.

A brace from The White Pele kept United ticking over nicely and gave the Reds all three points as Sheffield United made life difficult for Ferguson's team. SAF again kept his, it seems, and everyone's else's favourite eleven for the fourth successive league game, even encouraging Ronaldo and Giggs to spread as wide as possible in a 4-4-2!

As the game settled United retained plenty of possession, passing the ball well. The first big opportunity came when club captain Gary Neville was sent clean through after Ryan Giggs's pass wasn't dealt with enough by Kazim-Richards. But Neville, never one with an eye for goal, shot straight at Paddy Kenny who saved easily.

Sheffield then took the lead with virtually their first venture into United territory. Rio Ferdinand, back-pedalling into his own half with plenty of time, tried a Silvestre-like blind kick up field only for his clearance to fall into the feet of Greary. The midfielder crossed to the far post for ex-United winger Keith Gillespie who was unmarked by Evra to head home.

In RANT's humble opinion it was no fault of the French full-back - Ferdinand had time and space to build from the back and with sloppy play he lost possession after Evra had moved up field expecting a quick counter. Tut tut Rio.

United, who created many chances, began their hunt for the equaliser immediately as Gary Neville turned in a cross for Rooney who made Paddy work again. Shortly afterwards United were denied a penalty as Louis Saha was mugged by Rob Kozluk as he jumped into the United striker's back, knocking him to the floor. United players were so incensed that the usually cool Ryan Giggs blew his stack and was booked by Clattenberg.

The equaliser then came through Gary Neville - who was a menace the whole game. The full-back crossed for Rooney who controlled the ball with one touch and smashed home the effort with his second.

Sheffield started the second half well but without troubling United. The Reds were finding it difficult to create anything of significance themselves however. They finally got the breakthrough that their' possession deserved through Evra on the left. The Frenchman crossed deep to Rooney, who peeled away from his marker to force home a volley, strikingly similar to that by Eric Cantona against Newcastle some years ago!

United could have scored another four goals as the game drew to a close - Ronaldo missed two sitters, struck the bar with a header, and Scholes had an effort cleared off the line by Jagielka.

Then Ronaldo would strike over the bar from three yards our an effort that must have been harder to miss than score after Giggs supplied the ammo.

A flurry of late free kicks given to Sheffield United outside of the box kept United fans sweating but the Reds held on and kept up their three point lead on Chelsea.

So a a big up goes to Gatey and Stash who your reporter sat with and the Rest of the West Cumbria Reds. Grant from Astley in Manchester, Grant Thompson and Ryan Cain, Steve Abbott, Dave "I'm so NOT in the Celtic clique" Taylor, Steve Power and Kev Killen, and Craig Adams. A big thank you to the bus driver Mr. Brendan Lithgow!

Player Ratings
van der Sar (6); Neville (8), Ferdinand (6), Vidic (7), Evra (7); Ronaldo (7), Carrick (6), Scholes (7), Giggs (8); Rooney (9), Saha (7).
Subs Used: Heinze (6) for Evra (80 mins).
Subs not used: Kusczak, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre.

United's Man of the Match
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Rooney was back in a central role and was brilliant once again. Not only does he score but he is so creative too. Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs were also exceptional as the senior members of the squad all hit form at the same time.

Keano16 Reaction
A wee bit of a butterfly in the stomach before Rooney's goal settled everyone down. After the first it was inevitable that another would come. So another potential banana skin hurdled and the biggest game of the season (so far) against Chelsea looms large.
4-4-2 and United's strongest 11 - just look what we can do. THANK YOU Sir Alex Ferguson.

Morinho, are you listening, you'd better keep our trophy glistening,
Cause we'll be back in May, To take it away,
Walking in a Fergie wonderland.

There is a team from Moss Side, they play in Blue and White,
And Everyone in Manchester knows they are fuc*ing shite,
They play down at the council house, there managers a clown,
And you should hear United laugh, cause they are going down.

Oh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Oh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Was our Prediction Right?
We said 3-0 to United. Rant 3 v 16 Wrong Predictions.
Your reporter must hold his hand up in shame as his girlfriend guessed the score correctly and was told she knows nothing (sorry Stacy)!

Milestones
Wayne Rooney's 33rd and 34th Premiership goals of his United career and 42nd and 43rd goals overall for the club
Gary Neville's 350th competitive League appearance for United
Neville is now tied with former United Legend Joe Spence on 510 competitive appearances for United.
EVDS's 50th competitive league appearance for United.