|
MANCHESTER UNITED v MIDDLESBROUGH, BRIGGSY'S ANALYSIS
Steve McClaren's men sent shivers down the spines of everyone
associated
with Manchester United yet again yesterday as we came away from the Theatre of
Dreams
with a well deserved point. The game ended in a nil-nil stalemate but was certainly eventful.
McClaren again made wholesale changes from the side that played
Everton,
nine in total. The team was :- Jones, Parnaby, Riggott, Bates,
Queudrue,
Morrison, Cattermole, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing and Maccarone. We
adopted
a 4-5-1 formation.
It was pretty much a non-event for United in the first-half as we clearly bossed
the
game. It took just under twenty minutes to carve open our first threat
on
the United goal. Rochemback slid through an exquisite ball for
Maccarone,
the Italian ran onto it taking Rio Ferdinand out of the game before
striking
across goal, but Edwin Van Der Sar was on hand to save United's blushes.
Moments later the highly confident Massimo Maccarone was once again
causing
chaos in the United half as he fizzed a twenty-five yard shot just wide of the
United
goal. Minutes later Van Der Sar had to produce an excellent save to
prevent
Rochemback from scoring from range. The Dutch keeper put the ball
behind for
a corner. United had two chances before the interval but they failed to
capitalise.
With an hour gone Downing nearly opened the scoring. Stewey hit a low
powerful shot but Van Der Sar made the save. We clearly had dominated
the
opening hour at Old Trafford, but you can't keep United at bay for too
long.
They inevitably came back into the game with the intervention of
Christian
Ronaldo.
It took Ronaldo just five minutes to threaten the Boro goal. Neville
played
in the tricky winger but with Brad Jones racing off his line Ronaldo
couldn't capitalise. Minutes later Ronaldo was on the attack again.
This
time he capitalised from a Rochemback mistake, Ronaldo skipped past
Queudrue
before trying a dipping shot but Jones saves.
With twenty-five minutes to go the break through looked like it had
come.
Cattermole foolishly handled inside the box and referee Chris Foy
showed no
hesitation in handing United a penalty. Ruud Van Nistelrooy confidently
stepped up and took the spot kick but Brad Jones made a magnificent
save to
his right. What a let off, but it would have been cruel had it gone in.
United continued to press but with fifteen minutes to go, Maccarone
was
presented with a great chance to become a hero for the third time in a
matter of weeks. The Italian struck a low powerful free kick through
the
wall but Van Der Saar saved down to his left. United rallied late on
but
failed to but any grave danger on the Boro goal and we came away with a
deserved point.
It was a very pleasing result considering the amount of changes we had
made.
What was more pleasing was to see the youngsters keep on going from
strength
to strength. Seven academy players featured in the match and that was
very
pleasing to hear considering the youngsters we had missing.
We have two more games between now and the end of the season, I fully
expect
we'll see more of our youth academy players along with experience.
They're
on a steep learning curve and the players and the club will be stronger
for
this.
The road to Eindhoven continues.
BACK TO MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
|
|
|
|
