As hangover cures go, this match wasn’t the best remedy, but a 1-0 win over Birmingham City and three more valuable points toward the defence of United’s title was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson had prescribed.Carlos Tevez got the game’s only goal – producing a dummy in his celebration – but ended up being carried off with an injury after Louis Saha replaced him late on, although he didn't look in too much pain.After the disappointment of defeat to West Ham three days previously, this was a game United could not afford to lose, but although the Reds got off to a good start, the lack of a second goal made it a nervous finish.Sir Alex once again sat in the stands, completing his two-game touchline ban, and watched as his side made a far more positive start than the sluggish opening at Upton Park. United were again without Wayne Rooney, who is still suffering from a virus, leaving Carlos Tevez paired with Cristiano Ronaldo in attack. And it was the Portuguese attacker, in such excellence goalscoring form this season, who registered United’s opening shot on goal after just three minutes. Cutting into the box from the left flank he fizzed in a low shot which Maik Taylor saved low at his feet.The Reds continued the bright opening when Tevez went even closer after six minutes. Following neat work between Anderson and Patrice Evra down the left, the Frenchman, under pressure from Blues defender Stephen Kelly, crossed for Tevez, whose glancing header beat Taylor but rebounded off the post.
Ronaldo is such an omnipresent threat that it makes little difference where his starting position is. Although not the sort to relish having his back to goal, when facing Birmingham’s defence the visitors looked petrified. He went close with a volley from the edge of the area after excellent chest control, but his shot dipped over the bar. Birmingham were forced deeper and deeper as the Reds surged forward in search of an opening goal. But the threat wasn’t just from Tevez and Ronaldo. On 20 minutes Nani, having temporarily swapped flanks with Ji-sung Park, turned in-field from the left wing and blasted a shot millimetres wide of the upright. United’s relentless pressure finally reaped its reward. After 25 minutes Tevez played a one-two with Ronaldo, whose return pass was a sublime backheel that put his team-mate clean through on goal, before applying a tidy finish past Taylor. Bizarrely, the Argentina international celebrated with a dummy in his mouth.Some supporters in the stands may have been nursing hangovers from the New Year celebrations, but the game also had a similarly sluggish feel to it. Birmingham appeared incapable of penetrating United’s defence, while the Reds seemed prepared to do all that was required, without overexertion. The second half began in much the same vein. And, likewise, Ronaldo was the main protagonist in United’s attacks. He went close to his 19th goal of the season when Park crossed from the right and Ronaldo forced a save out of Taylor with a powerful downward header.Ronaldo and Tevez both had opportunities to double United’s lead with in a 20-second spell that should have garnered a Reds goal on the hour mark. First Tevez did exceptionally well to hold of two Blues defenders before blasting his shot off the post. Receiving the rebound eight yards out, Ronaldo danced his way across goal but saw his shot blocked.Although a 1-0 victory over Birmingham at this stage of the season is a perfectly good result, the only concern was that it is by no means a secure scoreline – the threat of a scuffed finish or a set-piece strike is always present in the Premier League. Sir Alex attempted to counter that threat by replacing Tevez with Louis Saha and Park with Owen Hargreaves. Mikael Forssell came off the bench for Alex McLeish’s men and caused the Reds defence a few problems, but United managed to stave off the visitors threat to hang on for the win. Nine points from a possible 12 over the Christmas period. Most importantly, the Reds are off to a winning start in 2008.
Team Line-upsUnited: Kuszczak; O’Shea, Ferdinand (c), Vidic, Evra (Brown 85); Park (Hargreaves 76), Carrick, Anderson, Nani; Ronaldo, Tevez (Saha 72).Subs not used: Heaton (GK), Pique.Booked: Brown
Ron tops Rovers poll Cristiano Ronaldo's quick-fire brace against Blackburn has earned the winger the Man of the Match award, as voted by ManUtd.com users.More than 6500 fans had their say in an online poll after United ended Rovers' unbeaten streak on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford. Mark Hughes' men hadn't lost away from home in the league since the last time they came to Old Trafford, back in March. But two goals in as many minutes – the first a powerful header, the second a simple tap-in after good work down the left by Carlos Tevez – sunk the visitors and left Sir Alex marvelling at his side's killer instinct.Ronaldo didn't light up the stage as he has done on so many other occasions, but his two goals undoubtedly turned the game and he garnered an impressive 53 per cent of the vote.Ryan Giggs, who turned back the clock with a stunning display of wing wizardry, provided the sternest competition (18%), while Patrice Evra (13%), Owen Hargreaves (11%) and Carlos Tevez (5%) rounded out the voting.
Rooney: I didn't enjoy it Wayne Rooney didn’t enjoy the 4-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv - he felt the Ukrainians came to Old Trafford without any intention of attempting to achieve a result.The 21-year-old Reds striker got on the scoresheet, but he described the match as “like a training match”.“We're delighted that we’re through and maybe we can rest a few players in the next two games,” he said.“It was difficult though because they didn’t want to play. It spoilt the game and I didn’t really enjoy playing in it. It was one of those nights but we did a good job and got the win.“It was like a training session, they came and showed no enthusiasm to play the game. At times we played some good football, but it was a slow game. The main thing, though, was that we won the game.”Rooney was pleased with the contribution of young defenders Danny Simpson, Gerard Pique and Jonny Evans, who were all given a chance to shine.“A few lads came in and did really well – Simmo, Gerard Pique and Jonny Evans got good experience. That will help them in years to come and I’m sure they’ll thrive on that.”And for the rest of the squad it’s a continuation of the good form the team has been producing in recent weeks. “We’re really confident at the moment anyway,” he added. “We’re playing some good football and we just want to keep that up.”
08/11/2007 16:57, Report Trickbox: Evra on form United barely gave Dynamo Kyiv a sniff on Wednesday as the Reds secured qualification to the knockout stages - but it wasn't just the goals that delighted the Old Trafford crowd.With United cruising to a 4-0 victory, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrice Evra pulled off some of their finest party pieces in the second half, and you can watch them all in our free Trickbox video.Ronaldo is United's magician when it comes to fancy footwork, but the 22-year-old was arguably outdone by Evra and Rooney against the Ukrainians.Evra, whose impressive turn inside the area almost led to a goal for Carlos Tevez, says he enjoyed trying something new during the game."I didn’t score, but it was a great skill. I liked it," he told Setanta. "When the team plays well, you are more confident, and you try something like that. Maybe if it had been 5-0 I would have gone for goal myself!"
“If I’d been born ugly, you’d never have heard of Pelé.” Many a true word is spoken in jest, and few would argue that George Best was the most naturally gifted footballer Britain has produced.Speed, balance, vision, superb close control, the ability to create chances and score from seemingly impossible situations tells half the story. The other half was an uncontainable zest for the game as it should be played, a ceaseless trickery and joy. Pelé, for his part, dubbed United’s no.7 "the greatest player in the world."A skinny teenager from Belfast's Cregagh estate, Best was spotted by United scout Bob Bishop, who famously told Matt Busby: “Boss, I think I’ve found you a genius”.Having fought off initial homesickness, Best turned professional on his 17th birthday in May 1963, made his debut in September – and scored on his second appearance. A first cap for Northern Ireland swiftly followed. In 1964/65, alongside Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and David Herd, Best was a key figure in the Reds’ first title triumph since the pre-Munich era.The following season he almost single-handedly destroyed Benfica in the European Cup quarter-final in their own back
