With both Arsenal and Chelsea winning early in the day, Manchester United had to get all three points, and the Reds did just that with a workman-like performance in 3-0 win against West Ham United at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney and Nani both got their first goals of the 2010/11 season and well-deserved goal from Dimitar Berbatov rounded off the scoring for United.
All three goal scorers have been under scrutiny, and all of three of them silenced their critics.
One of the most absurd criticisms came to an end as Rooney his personal goal scoring drought at 13 matches (1,113 minutes). Nani, who missed the crucial penalty against Fulham last weekend, netted a fine shot to silence his critics as well. Berbatov, who is also often criticized by the United supporters, put in a very good effort leading the United attack by popping up on the right, the left or through the middle and setting up his teammates with great passing.
Plan
There was no question what West Ham came to Old Trafford to do - sit 10 players behind the ball with Carlton Cole up front on his own, and it forced United to work hard and break down their stern resistance.
Avram Grant's game plan worked well as the Reds did not get off to a good start to the match, and they allowed West Ham their fair share of possession, but thankfully they squandered their half-chances.
United's first decent chance fell to the feet of Rooney in the 10th minute, but the center forward's powerful long-range shot went straight into the arms and chest of the West Ham goalkeeper.
United's next chance came when Nani earned himself a free-kick from about 25-yards from goal, but the Portuguese winger's effort flew just over Robert Green's crossbar.
In the 24th minute United almost took the lead after a wonderful searching ball from Paul Scholes was met by a first-time back-heel by Berbatov, which went right into the path of Nani, but his right-footed blast was unfortunately touched onto West Ham bar by Green, and West Ham escaped.
In the 33rd minute, United earned themselves a penalty after another pinpoint 30-yard pass from Scholes found the foot of Ryan Giggs, and without hesitation, the 36-year old burst into the box and was bundled over by former United youngster, Jonathan Spector.
In front of the Stretford End, Rooney took back his penalty kick responsibilities, and the United No. 10 showed his class by sending Green the wrong way to end his goal scoring drought.
The goal definitely opened up the game and forced the Hammers to push forward, but it was United who were unlucky to not have been two goals to the good as Darren Fletcher's curling effort was pushed around the far post by Green.
In first-half stoppage time, it looked like the energetic Scott Parker was going to have long run through the United midfield, but Scholes and Giggs were having none of it, and the two old boys came together and denied him.
Following their well-timed tackles, Giggs emerged with the ball and sent a through ball to Nani, but he chipped the ball of the top of the West Ham goal.
The second-half started the same way the first did with West Ham having a good spell of possession and defending quite well, but United were two goals up in the 50th minute.
Three of the players that were mostly involved in the United attack during the first 45 minutes - Scholes, Rooney and Nani - linked up well and the 23-year old winger left-footed shot arrowed passed Green.
United wanted to get the third to get clear out of sight of West Ham, but some fantastic last-ditch defending by Danny Gabbidon prevented Rooney from getting another following a wonderful through ball from Berbatov.
West Ham's best chance of the match came in the 56th minute when former Newcastle United midfielder, Kieron Dyer, curled the ball into the outside Edwin van der Sar's left-hand post.
Berbatov continued to be a handful for West Ham and responsible for getting his fellow United players involved in the attack with his sublime passing, and his back pass was directly into the path of Scholes, but the youthful 35-year old blast straight at Green.
A few minutes later, John O'Shea was barged over by Luís Boa Morte in an advance position, but Giggs left-footed curling effort ended up on the top of the West Ham net.
Berbatov finally earned his way onto the scoresheet with a wonderfully taken goal after Nani floated a teasing ball to the far post and the Bulgarian spectacularly hammered the ball passed Green from close range.
In the 74th minute, Sir Alex Ferguson decided on a triple change bringing on Michael Carrick, Michael Owen and Chris Smalling for Scholes, Berbatov and Jonny Evans, respectively. The introduction of Smalling marked the tall center back's first competitive appearance for United at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United players saw out the win in disciplined fashion as they worked hard to make sure that they kept the clean sheet against West Ham United.
Other
United start their defense of their Carling Cup title having been drawn against Scunthorpe United, a team that they have never faced before, in the Third Round. The match will take place at Glanford Park, a 9,000-seat stadium, during the week of September 20th.
Matchball
Even though West Ham opted to go with a lone striker, Nemanja Vidic turned in a fantastic performance with at least three very well-timed tackles.
Ratings
E .van der Sar - 7; J. O'Shea - 6, N. Vidic - 8, J. Evans - 7 (C. Smalling - 5), P. Evra - 7, Nani - 7, P. Scholes - 8 (M. Carrick - 5), D. Fletcher - 7, Giggs - 7; D. Berbatov - 8 (M. Owen - 5), W. Rooney - 7
Goals
W. Rooney (33'), Nani (50'), D. Berbatov (69')
Statistics
Possession: 61%
Corners: 10
Shots (On Target): 21 (7)
Fouls Conceded: 6
Fouls Suffered: 10
Bookings: D. Berbatov
Attendance: 75,061
Contributed by David Hammons / The United Religion
No comments:
Post a Comment