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| Which One Was United's Player Of The Month? |
The two games that United had postponed in December may have given Reds that little bit extra in the tank at the end of games to be able to come away with four against-all-odds results during the month.
Even though United did not look at their glittering best they still ended the month of January by winning six of their seven matches, and outscored their opponents 15-5.
However, it was the never-say-die attitude that the Reds showed in January that was most impressive, and United had two or three potential title winning performances.
Once again, Dimitar Berbatov led United in goals during a month this season as he scored five goals, which also included his third hat-trick of the season.
Even though Berbatov scored one-third of the goals during the month of January, the Reds had six different goal scorers - including four with two or more goals.
January also saw Wayne Rooney bring to an end his long-standing goalless drought with his first goal from open play in over eight months.
In spite of the influx of goals and the five goals that United conceded in January, there were a couple of eye-catching, unheralded defensive statistics that should have really been mentioned by fans.
During a very jarring part of their January fixture list, United went 325 minutes without conceding a goal, but that streak was coincidentally brought to an abrupt end by Craig Cathcart, who was a former defender for Reds youth academy.
The other statistic was when Rio Ferdinand was partnered with Nemanja Vidic in the United defense, the Reds only gave up one goal and it was from the latter of the two's side as well.
Summary
United got off to the best of starts with a goal just two minutes in against West Brom, but they held on for dear life after that and somehow left The Hawthrowns with a somewhat undeserving 2-1 victory.
Rooney scored that elusive goal to give the Reds the lead, but Adam Morrison scored an absolute screamer to level the scores, and that goal gave the hosts all the confidence take the game to United.
The Baggies really should have taken the lead, but Peter Odemwingie missed a penalty, and that allowed United the glimmer of hope and Chicharito to head home Rooney's smartly taken corner kick fifteen minutes to take all three points from the match.
Next up was Stoke City at Old Trafford, and once again United was almost severely punished for not taking their chances, but thankfully they showed the character that was needed to eek out a 2-1 win.
With under a half hour played, Javier Hernandez finally broke the Potters resistance with a clever clip at the near post, but United missed several opportunities to build on that lead.
Dean Whitehead's header five minutes into the second half saw United's lead evaporate, but a stunning left-footed strike from Nani just 12 minutes after restored the Reds lead and they hung on for all three points.
United's next match was a feisty FA Cup match with their most-hated rival, Liverpool, which the Red Devils did well to win 1-0, but the game had controversy written all over it.
With just over a minute off the clock United were given a penalty when Dimitar Berbatov was touched ever so slightly by Daniel Agger, and Ryan Giggs did over so well to hammer his penalty home.
Then it looked as though Liverpool were about to get back in the match when their captain, Steven Gerrard, went in with his studs showing on Michael Carrick and Howard Webb, correctly, sent him off.
With a goal and a man advantage for the best part of an hour, United should have really added to their lead, which was summed up by a five-save effort from Liverpool's goalkeeper, Pepe Reina.
After two home games in a row, United traveled to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham, and the Reds were lucky to escape with a goalless draw.
Spurs enjoyed the lion share of the possession, but United's back-five put in a very astute, courageous performance to see out the result.
However, the Reds ended the match with Darren Fletcher playing at right-back after Mike Dean's ill-advised decision to give Rafael a second yellow card, which even Harry Redknapp made a joke about.
United were then in action a few days at Bloomfield Road taking on Blackpool in one of the makeup matches from December, and the 3-2 win was one of the better matches of the season.
It was not because United won, but how they won, because Blackpool jumped out to a fully-deserved two goal lead through Cathcart and DJ Campbell.
However in a span of 16 minutes late in the second half, United batter the Seasiders as Berbatov scored two goals and Chicharito added another one in the Reds' dramatic come-from-behind win.
United closed out the month of January with Fourth Round FA Cup match with Southampton, which is now in the third tier of English football, and the Reds left St. Mary's with a 2-1 victory.
Richard Chaplow gave the Saints the lead right on the stroke of halftime, but Michael Owen and Chicharito's second half goals saw United scrap through to the Fifth Round.
The result, as unfair as it may have been on Southampton, saw United get a very favorable draw for the Fifth Round as they will host non-league Crawley Town at Old Trafford.
Star
In one of the closely contested Player of the Month races, Giggs gets the nod over Chicharito because of the leadership he has shown during the month.
There is no questioning that both players were very influential during January, but Giggs coming on twice as a second half substitute to inspire United from the death ultimately sees him claim the honor.
On top of his two goals, the Welshman added three assists in the month, and two of them led to Chicharito's goals - equalizer against Blackpool and his winner against the Saints.
The month of January showed that Manchester United has the mettle to win silverware this season, but they still have four long, grueling months to go before they can even think about success.
Results
01 - West Bromwich Albion (BPL) - The Hawthorns - W, 2-1 (W. Rooney, J. Hernandez)
04 - Stoke City (BPL) - Old Trafford - W, 2-1 (J. Hernandez, Nani)
09 - Liverpool (FAC) - Old Trafford - W, 1-0 (R. Giggs)
16 - Tottenham (BPL) - White Hart Lane - D, 0-0
22 - Birmingham City (BPL) - Old Trafford - W, 5-0 (D. Berbatov 3, R. Giggs, Nani)
25 - Blackpool (BPL) - Bloomfield Road - W, 3-2 (D. Berbatov 2, J. Hernandez)
29 - Southampton City (BPL) - St. Mary's - W, 2-1 (M. Owen, J. Hernandez)
Record
GP 7 W 6 D 1 L 0 GF 15 GA 5 GD +10
Goals
D. Berbatov - 5
J. Hernandez - 4
Nani - 2
R. Giggs - 2
M. Owen - 1
W. Rooney - 1
Assists
R. Giggs - 3
W. Rooney - 3
J. O'Shea - 2
P. Evra - 1
D. Fletcher - 1
J. Hernandez - 1
Nani - 1
P. Scholes - 1
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