Many Manchester United opposers are blaming the referee, Martin Atkinson, for allocating over six minutes of stoppage time in the Manchester derby this past weekend, but a long look needs to be taken at Mark Hughes.
The Manchester City boss is doing one heck of a job destroying his legend status with the Old Trafford faithful with his constant disparaging comments about the club and how Sir Alex Ferguson managing the club.
Hughes should not only be fuming at his own players for their lack of discipline, concentration and composure, but take a long look in the mirror at his own actions.
Let off
The City boss had a go an all-out go at the fourth official for the allotting injury time, and he also bumped the linesman following Michael Owen’s winner.
Hughes should have faced the same punishment as Arsene Wenger got - sent to the showers in stoppage time at Old Trafford for his actions. The only difference is that Wenger did not make contact nor did he belittle an official.
There is much said about when players surround the referee, but how he escaped any punishment is a complete disgrace.
Added
He can try and blame the referee for adding onto the already allotted four minutes, but that time was figured before Craig Bellamy’s equalizer.
Bellamy should have done what most players would have done - run back to the center circle and try to grab the winner instead of celebrating an undeserved equalizer. The former Whales captain celebrated for close to a minute.
Sir Alex knew that throwing on Michael Carrick for Anderson would give him and United at least an extra 30 seconds to conjure up a winner.
Statistics
United controlled possession and out possessed their city neighbors 60% to 40%, and that is being generous. There were times in the second half where the only time City were touching the ball were to knock the ball out of the box or a save by Shay Given.
City scored three goals from four shots, and the only save that Ben Foster made was against Shawn Wright-Phillips in the 88th minute. United earn 11 corners to City’s one, which came following Foster’s save on Wright-Phillips.
The only statistic that City were on par with United was with yellow cards - two a piece! They committed one more foul - 16 to United’s 15.
Bottom line is that City was second best all afternoon, and if was not for a mental letdown by Rio Ferdinand and two horrendous and costly errors by Ben Foster, this match would have been done and dusted in the first half!
United absolutely hammered them to the point of break, and City’s back four were subjected to immense and constant pressure, and if they could, they would have surely have threw in their towel during that second half onslaught.
As Sir Alex said in one of his post match press conferences - Manchester United is not worried about the result between them and City - they are worried about winning the league.
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