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Utd 3 Burnley 0
Second half goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Mame Biram Diouf gave United a hard-fought win over Burnley, but the Reds were frustrated for long periods against a spirited visting side eager to impress new manager Brian Laws.
The Reds were given two sobering scares, as both Steven Fletcher and David Nugent passed up glaring opportunities with the scoresheet blank, before a quickfire double from the front two and an injury-time third from home debutant Diouf sealed a first victory of 2010 for the Reds.
Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar also made a welcome return to action after 12 games out, and made several key saves as the United backline registered a much-needed clean sheet.
That shutout could have evaporated after just seven minutes when Chris Eagles’ neat pass released Nugent to centre for Fletcher. However, as he bore down on goal, with only Michael Carrick in his proximity, the striker fired wastefully past the far post.
Another clipped ball from Eagles was inches away from finding Nugent for a certain opener, but United pieced together a sustained spell of pressure on the 20-minute mark and dominated proceedings for the remainder of the half, without ever finding a route through the visitors’ massed ranks.
The Reds time and again found space down the flanks, with Antonio Valencia giving Stephen Jordan a particularly torrid time, but the final ball was invariably intercepted or sent narrowly off target as the hosts packed nine outfield players into defensive positions.
Source : Man Utd
Birmingham 1 United 1
United missed out on the chance to pinch top spot from Chelsea after the Reds could only manage a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City at St Andrew's.
The hosts had taken the lead completely against the run of play through Cameron Jerome six minutes before half-time, but a Scott Dann own goal drew United level just after the hour mark.
Despite creating a host of first-half chances, the Reds failed to test Joe Hart after the break. Tomasz Kuszczak, on the other hand, was forced to make a string of fine saves as United struggled to hit top gear.
Sir Alex made seven changes to the side that lost out to Leeds United in the FA Cup – the 100th successive game he’d tinkered with the starting XI – with Paul Scholes, Rafael, Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Ji-sung Park all returning. A niggling knee injury ruled Dimitar Berbatov out of the gane.
The game was one of only two Saturday Barclays Premier League clashes that survived the big freeze – Arsenal’s match with Everton at the Emirates was the other – but both sets of players and fans still had bitterly cold conditions to contend with: indeed the temperature gauge read -3 at kick-off.
It was United’s first outing since last Sunday's shock FA Cup exit, and with Chelsea’s trip to Hull called off it was a chance to regain control at the top of the table. The Reds set about getting back on track straight away with Darren Fletcher almost giving the visitors the perfect start.
Source : Man Utd
United 0 Leeds 1
United can talk about two penalty shouts turned down, but the long and the short of this FA Cup tale is that the Reds just weren’t good enough in attack against a determined Leeds side who took their opportunity when it came.
The troublesome Jermaine Beckford scored after 19 minutes for the visitors, and although the Reds huffed and puffed, Sir Alex Ferguson's men couldn't blow the house down. Hardly the circumstances under which we’d like to have Leeds back at our place.
We’ve been denied this fixture for five years since Leeds' dramatic decline and disappearance from the Premier League in 2003/04, but with a bit of FA Cup magic sprinkled on top (and a bumper 9,000 away following) this was supposed to be an ideal resumption of rivalries with our old Yorkshire foes. ‘Welcome back’ read United Review’s front cover. ‘Welcome’ should have come with inverted commas.
Sir Alex went for his usual cup balance of youth and experience, notably with a brand new - and young-looking - midfield compared to the one that played against Wigan: Gabriel Obertan (20), Darron Gibson (22), Anderson (21) and Danny Welbeck (19).
Gary Neville, Jonny Evans and Fabio all returned in defence, while Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov remained in attack. That indicated a respect for this tie but the team selection overall alluded to one eye also being on Wednesday’s visit to Eastlands for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg tie with Manchester City. After a fairly tepid display though, it's just as well there are fresh legs to bolster the squad in midweek.
Source : Man Utd
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