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Manchester
United v West Bromwich Albion
Old Trafford,
Manchester. 7th May 2005, 5.15pm. |
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Match
Preview |
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| Result |
Manchester United |
1 - 1 |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Scorers |
Ryan Giggs (21) |
Robert Earnshaw (pen 63)
|
| Attendance |
67,827 |
| Teams |
4-2-3-1
13 - Roy Carroll (GK)
6 - Wes Brown
5 - Rio Ferdinand
3 - Phil Neville
22 - John O'Shea
27 - Mikael Silvestre
25 - Quinton Fortune
11 - Ryan Giggs
15 - Jose Kleberson
7 - Cristiano Ronaldo
14 - Alan Smith |
4-3-3
(GK) Russell Hoult - 1
Martin Albrechtsen - 14
Neil Clement - 19
Thomas Gaardsoe - 4
Paul Robinson - 3
Ronnie Wallwork - 24
Jonathan Greening - 8
Kevin Campbell - 21
Robert Earnshaw - 34
Zoltan Gera - 11
Geoff Horsfield - 9 |
| Substitutes |
1 - Tim Howard (GK)
17 - Liam Miller
18 - Paul Scholes
8 - Wayne Rooney
9 - Louis Saha |
(GK) Tomasz Kuszczak
- 29
Darren Moore - 5
Riccardo Scimeca - 2
Junichi Inamoto - 33
Nwankwo Kanu - 25 |
| Substitutions |
L Saha for A Smith (67)
W Rooney for J Kleberson (67)
P Scholes for P Neville (67) |
T Kuszczak for R Hoult
(22)
N Kanu for G Horsfield (66)
J Inamoto for Z Gera (83) |
| Yellow Cards |
Alan Smith (47) |
None |
| Red Cards |
None |
None |
| Referee |
M Halsey (Lancashire) |
At ten to five on Saturday
afternoon, as we left the pub to make our way to Old Trafford, Crystal
Palace were 2-1 up and it seemed as though Albion would need to
take three points off Manchester United to avoid relegation that
evening. As we arrived at the stadium, news filtered through that
Southampton had grabbed a last gasp equaliser and suddenly it was
game on - we could not be relegated that day whatever the result
and the atmosphere was completely different. The away fans were
back in party mood and ready to cheer the lads on to any sort of
result.
Robson had obviously been forced to make his team selection ahead
of the final whistle at Selhurst Park, and he set the team out to
get the three points that they could have needed. Earnshaw was given
his second consecutive start away from home as part of a three-man
forward line with Kevin Campbell and Geoff Horsfield. The formation
also conveniently meant that we could only field three in midfield
which meant that Richardson's ineligibility was not felt as much
as would otherwise have been. Greening returned from suspension
to take his place alongside his fellow ex-United teammate Ronnie
Wallwork and Zoltan Gera. Darren Moore dropped back down to the
bench as the defence reverted to its familiar line-up.
Despite noises that Albion would be given "no favours", Sir Alex
opted to rest a number of key players. Van Nistelrooy and Keane
failed to make the sixteen and Rooney and Scholes were only on the
bench. Nonetheless, it was still a very dangerous side with Alan
Smith operating as a lone striker with support from Ronaldo and
Giggs. One positive note for the Baggies was a start for Kleberson
- World Cup winner he may be, but United have never won a match
that he has started!
As the game started, it seemed that the players had taken a boost
from the late drama in South London and seemed to hold their own
early on. But the hosts soon found their rhythm and started to threaten
the Baggies goal. Gaardsoe made a number of key clearances in the
first twenty minutes as Ronaldo, Giggs and Kleberson all made space
to ping balls into the area.
Smith wasted a decent chance from a Giggs corner and Russell Hoult
was called into action a couple of times. One of those was in tipping
away a defensive header from Neil Clement. Russell was not to know
that the ball was going wide anyway, and he managed to injure himself
in the process, which would prove crucial minutes later.
Hoult received treatment but felt fit enough to carry on. Had he
been an outfield player, I'm sure he would've gone off - it was
to prove a fatal mistake.
Halsey gave a slightly dubious free kick on the edge of the area
when Gaardsoe was adjudged to have fouled Alan Smith. According
to Zoltan Gera, Mark Halsey told the Hungarian captain that he would
not allow the quick free kick but, as Gera took his place in the
wall, Giggs curled the ball towards the far corner. Hoult tried
to move but collapsed in a heap, obviously feeling his groin injury,
and the ball was in the net.
It was a cruel blow for the Baggies, but it was a goal that the
home side probably deserved. The substitution that should have been
made a couple of minutes early took place with Tomasz Kuszczak replacing
Hoult, and what a game it proved to be for the young Pole.
United looked to finish Albion off before the break, but Kuszczak
had other ideas. Albion's three strikers were unable to keep possession
when the defence did get the ball away and United created chance
after chance. Fortune and Ronaldo, twice, looked odds-on to score
but the Polish international 'keeper pulled off three excellent
saves to keep Albion in the game. Ferdinand found himself in unfamiliar
territory as he looked to score with a volley from six yards, but
he showed why he has never scored for the Red Devils by skewing
the ball well wide.
Somehow Albion made it to half time without conceding further and
the players prepared themselves for the hair dryer treatment from
Robson. It was a half time performance that his mentor, Sir Alex,
would have been proud of - Albion came out a completely different
side.
For the first fifteen minutes after the break, it was the visitors
that dominated possession. Suddenly, the movement and accurate passing
was back with Wallwork the prime orchestrator in the middle of the
park. Earnshaw registered Albion's first attempt on goal in the
match three minutes after the break - United had seventeen before
the break.
Kuszczak still had to be alert though as Kleberson tested him with
a fierce shot at the other end. But back at the other end, Carroll
was forced into his first save. O'Shea's back header was not strong
enough and Campbell got his head to the ball as Carroll came out,
but the United 'keeper managed to keep it out.
Back at the other end, Fortune managed to get away from Gaardsoe
and get to the byline and pulled a perfect ball back for Kleberson,
but the Brazilian blazed the ball well over the bar.
Albion threatened next when Gera intercepted a loosed ball from
Ferdinand and advanced on the United goal, but his final shot was
high and wide. Ronaldo went close at the other end but then Halsey
shocked everyone by awarding Albion a penalty - not because it wasn't
a foul, but because it was against United at Old Trafford.
It was a long ball over the top by Campbell and Horsfield managed
to get in front of O'Shea. It was a clumsy challenge from the Irishman
as he grabbed the Horse's shoulder pulling him down. He was arguably
the last man and could consider himself lucky to escape a red card.
Earnshaw stepped up and calmly waited for Carroll to commit before
planting the ball in the opposite side of the net. Albion had an
unlikely equaliser, but one their second half performance had just
about deserved.
Ferguson decided that radical changes were required and made a triple
substitution bringing on Saha, Rooney and Scholes - it was now all
out attack as the two more defensive midfielders, Kleberson and
Neville, were both withdrawn.
Could Albion hang on? To be honest, it wasn't as difficult as I
feared it would be. Robson brought on Kanu for Horsfield and the
former Gunner helped Albion keep the ball for long periods with
Gera and Wallwork also retaining possession well. In fact, Kanu
should've won Albion's second penalty when he was felled by Giggs,
but Halsey was never likely to give a second one.
With such an array of attacking talent on show, United were always
going to create chances, but our Pole in Goal was on hand to bring
off another two exceptional saves from Scholes and Rooney. And when
he was beaten, Albion's luck held out as a fierce Scholes effort
struck the foot of the post.
In the dying minutes, Kuszczak saved the Baggies again with a great
save from Rooney's free kick and an attack of cramp meant that Earnshaw
failed to beat Ferdinand to a ball over the top - earlier in the
game, he would have surely reached the ball first for a one-on-one.
But the Baggies held out for another fantastic point which gives
them a real chance of avoiding the drop on the last day. I've said
it before and I'll say it again - whatever happens next Sunday,
Bryan Robson has done an amazing job to put Albion in a position
where they could still escape on the last day. At Old Trafford on
Saturday, I was proud to be a Baggie and whether its Championship
or Premiership football I watch next season, I'll remain just as
proud.
Marks
Russell Hoult - 7 - Did well early on; perhaps guilty of a misjudgment
with regard to the injury, but I'm sure he'd have gone off if he'd
realised the seriousness of the pull.
Martin Albrechtsen - 6 - At times he looked a little out of his
depth, but he generally did OK.
Neil Clement - 7 - Decent performance from Clem.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 8 - Excellent display from Tommy; back to his
best.
Paul Robinson - 7 - Another good performance.
Ronnie Wallwork - 8 - Another superb display, particularly in the
second half.
Jonathan Greening - 5 - Looked like he hadn't played for a couple
of weeks; disappointing.
Kevin Campbell - 5 - Another disappointing display, particularly
with the ball at his feet.
Robert Earnshaw - 7 - A very encouraging game from Earnie; very
cool with the pen.
Zoltan Gera - 6 - Mixed from Zoltan; some good moments but some
poor decision making.
Geoff Horsfield - 6 - Worked hard, did well to win the penalty but
never looked like scoring.
Tomasz Kuszczak - 9 - MOM. What a stage to show how good a shot
stopper he is - outstanding.
Nwankwo Kanu - 6 - Did OK at retaining possession.
Junichi Inamoto - 6 - Did OK.
Bryan Robson - 7 - Probably played the right team in the circumstances
but obviously said the right things at half time.
Jon Want, 9th May 2005.
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