As sure as night follows day you know you’ll hardly ever get a penalty at Old Trafford. Albion were out played for long periods yesterday, but still gave a good account of themselves at the Theatre of Dreams.
Roy Hodgson was forced into two changes to the side which beat Chelsea with Gabriel Tamas and Chris Brunt replacing the injured Steven Reid and Jerome Thomas.
The changes certainly didn’t seem to influence the attacking flow of the visitors – who enjoyed the best of the exchanges in the opening twenty minutes.
Keith Andrews should’ve put Albion in front after only six minutes. Marc Antonie Fortune did well to win the ball. The striker found James Morrison who ignored the run of Chris Brunt and favour of Liam Ridgewell down the left. The defender crossed an inviting ball into the near post but the stretching Andrews couldn’t convert the opportunity.
Albion were doing well to stop United getting into any sort of rhythm. The midfield three of Morrison, Mulumbu and Andrews were again working tirelessly to stop Carrick and Scholes getting any time on the ball.
But United started to get a foothold in the game. Between the 30th minute and until United scored in the 36th minute, Albion enjoyed only 10% of the ball. A goal was inevitable against such good opposition. It came quite for fortunately – although on reflection, Rooney’s movement was world class. Hernandez fired the ball across goal, Rooney beat the offside trap to perfection to divert the ball over the diving Foster. 1-0 United. All of Albion’s good work inside the first 25 minutes undone.
Yet Albion weren’t blown away. In seasons gone you’d expect United to go on and win comfortably by three or four goals. That didn’t happen yesterday.
After the break
Albion regrouped and again started the brighter of the sides. Odemwinigie took on the ball down the right and dribbled into the area. He poked the ball past Evra who mistimed his tackle and hacked the ankle of Albion’s striker. He went down. The players all waited for referee Lee Probert to point to the spot. He waved play on – much to the dismay of Odemwingie.
The ball broke at the other end immediately for Hernandez. He controlled the ball and spun on the 18 yard line. His shot gave Foster no chance but cannoned back off the post and off Olsson to safety.
United found their confidence again and were almost ahead when Probert missed not one, but two fouls on Gareth McAuley and Gabriel Tamas. Danny Welbeck took advantage and rounded the on-rushing Ben Foster. Fortunately for Albion, Welbeck shot wide when presented with an open goal.
Albion were struggling to string two passes together at this point. However, Tamas did test De Gea with a long range effort.
Referee Probert then ensured he’d be on Fergie’s Christmas card list when he showed Jonas Olsson a second yellow card – I’m not sure what Olsson was given his first caution for. Olsson committed three fouls all game – yet was forced to take an early bath.
There would be no way back. As Albion were reshuffling, United got a second. Ashley Young fell over Keith Andrews’ arm. Probert couldn’t wait to give the penalty. Rooney stepped up to score his second. Game over.
On came Paul Scharner, Nicky Shorey and Shane Long. However, it was damage limitation. Albion were far from overran, but lacked any type of attacking edge with ten men. Shane Long tested De Gea again late on, but his shot was palmed away for a corner.
On reflection
It was never going to be easy at Old Trafford. Not only are you playing against a side of 11 internationals, you’re also playing against 57,000 thousand United fans and referees scared to make big decisions. I’m not sure if we had been given a penalty and scored then we’d have got something out of the game. But it would’ve given us the opportunity to do so. We enjoyed good starts to both halves, but, ultimately, we didn’t score when on top. Let’s hope that changes at Wigan.
Boing Boing.
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