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Manchester
United v West Bromwich Albion
Old Trafford,
Manchester. 17th August 2002, 3.00pm. |
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I'll admit to being emotional when I saw the men in stripes run
out onto the impeccable Old Trafford playing surface. That's when
it sunk in, I think. Yes, as Michael Burke said on the Friday 10
O'Clock News(!), the Baggies ARE back.
We managed to find the pub all Albion fans should have been in,
the Throstle's Nest, just 15 minutes walk from the ground. (For
next year, just carry on down past the Tollgate - of course we'll
be there next year!!) It wasn't my first visit to Old Trafford,
although as my two previous visits were to watch England, this was
my first to see the Baggies there. The sheer size of everything
does more to demonstrate the gap between the best sides in the Premiership,
and the rest. With the level of resources they have, it's no wonder
they've dominated the English game for ten years.
But it does have it's drawbacks (we'll not really, I'm grasping
at straws here!). A good proportion of the crowd are not regular
supporters and, therefore, when a team goes there and does what
the Albion did, frustrates the home side for long periods, 64,500
people can seem awfully quiet. Of course, the 3,000 Albion fans
were magnificent, outsinging the home fans despite being outnumbered
by more than twenty to one.
A trip to Old Trafford certainly tells you in a very loud voice
that you're now playing with the big boys, but this game will have
made the critics who have tipped us overwhelmingly for relegation
at least think again, if not change their minds. OK, Albion didn't
push the title favourites too far in terms of attacking opportunities,
but how many visiting teams to Old Trafford do? But while we had
eleven men on the field, there was always a chance we could nick
it.
The Albion looked every bit as solid and organised as they had done
last season. Ferguson had surprisingly opted to use his much-maligned
4-4-1-1 formation with soon-to-be-sued Roy Keane taking the link-up
position behind van Nistelrooy. Megson chose to stick with the starting
eleven from the slightly smaller Broadhall Way venue seven days
earlier. Apart from Hoult easily dealing with a shot from Roy Keane,
after twenty minutes I found myself double-checking that it was
Beckham, Giggs, Butt, Veron, Blanc and van Nistelrooy that Albion
we're playing against - they were frighteningly comfortable.
There had been little threat to Roy Carroll's goal too until Roberts
shot straight at him on the half hour. A short time later, Balis
teed up the again disappointing Dichio, but he scuffed his shot
wide. You wondered if Keane's mind was elsewhere when he missed
the best chance yet seconds later, a free header from six yards
after a great cross from Nicky Butt. A short time later, Roberts
mesmerised Blanc and O'Shea to set up a shooting opportunity, but
he could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
As we approached half time, United started to turn the screw with
van Nistelrooy, Giggs and Butt all seeing good chances go begging
from a combination of poor finishing and some outstanding goalkeeping.
But the Baggies held on until the break and went in well pleased.
The second half continued in the same vein, with United controlling
the game but seeming to run out of ideas. Roberts had another go
at Blanc and O'Shea, but couldn't beat Carroll at the near post.
On 59 minutes, Ferguson finally admitted that this formation was
not going to break down the boys from the Black Country, and replaced
Seba Veron, who had done little to impress, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Dichio was also replaced a few minutes later with Dobie coming on
in his place. But then it all went wrong...
McInnes, who had been battling well with Butt and Keane in midfield,
was fouled by the Irish international in the middle of the park,
but then received a booking for time-wasting when taking the resultant
free kick. But seconds later, he lunged at Butt two-footed. Yes
he got the ball, but it doesn't matter - the rules of the game are
quite clear and he had to go. I'm sure Mr Vogts watching from the
stands was less than impressed, but more importantly he let us all
down. He should know better. A difficult task suddenly became nigh
on impossible.
Dobie dropped back into midfield leaving Roberts on his own up front
- just like the first half really! But the siege was on. Moore bravely
blocked a Solskjaer shot a few minutes later before Megson brought
Taylor on for Roberts. Albion held on with ten men for just over
a quarter of an hour but with Ferguson taking off both his full-backs
for Scholes and Forlan (yes, this was a bench to dream about!!)
it was only a matter of time. On 78 minutes, with the brave Baggies
defence being pulled in all directions, Keane put SOLSKJAER through
with a simple pass, and he beat Hoult with a crisp shot into the
right hand corner.
Megson did try to pull it back by bringing on Taylor, and he did
have a chance to equalise, but shot straight at Carroll. Now that
would have been something special!
It was a brave battling performance with Hoult and Big Dave the
stars - Megson had obviously done his homework as the United threat
was much diminished. But I came away frustrated because I firmly
believe that we would have held out had our captain not had that
rush of blood. No points, but I think West Bromwich Albion proved
they can hack it at this level.
RESULT - MANCHESTER UNITED 1 WEST
BROMWICH ALBION 0
Marks
Hoult - 9 - MOM. Outstanding.
Balis - 7 - Didn't have much chance to show his attacking prowess,
but a good defensive performance.
Clement - 6 - Generally defended well against Beckham, but got caught
a couple of times.
Gilchrist - 7 - Solid (again!).
Moore - 8 - Brilliant, marshalled the back line superbly.
Sigurdsson - 7 - Good game, did not look out of his depth at this
level.
Gregan - 7 - Played well, unlucky to be substituted.
Johnson - 7 - We must keep him, he never stopped running.
McInnes - 4 - Had done well until he let us down.
Dichio - 5 - Did nothing.
Roberts - 7 - Did very well with little service and no support.
Dobie - 6 - Didn't really have much chance to shine.
Taylor - 6 - Ditto.
Marshall - 6 - Came on in a difficult situation, didn't have much
opportunity to show us what he can do.
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Manchester
United (4-4-1-1):
Carroll; P Neville (Scholes 71), O'Shea, Blanc, Silvestre (Forlan,
77); Beckham, Butt, Veron (Solskjaer 59), Giggs; Keane; van Nistelrooy.
Subs not used: Williams (GK), Tierney. |
West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Sigurdsson, Moore, Gilchrist; Balis, McInnes, Gregan (Taylor
83), Johnson, Clement; Roberts (Marshall 70), Dichio (Dobie 60).
Subs not used: Jensen (GK), Wallwork.
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Scoring: Solskjaer
(78) 1-0.
Bookings: Manchester United - Keane (foul 62). West Bromwich Albion
- McInnes (time-wasting 63).
Sendings Off: West Bromwich Albion - McInnes (foul 64)
Referee: S Bennett (Orpington)
Attendance: 67,645 |
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