| By Sam Fox,
on 17-08-2008 23:33
|
Views : 606 |
Favoured : 39 |
 A depleted United side drew with Newcastle in a match that seemed to suggest Man Utd need to accelerate their efforts to add Berbatov to the squad. There was not enough spark in the side to undo a much improved side, but still only Newcastle.
The champions started the game strongly and Shay Given made three
top-class saves in the early stages to keep his side on level terms.
Obafemi Martins then stunned the home crowd after scoring with a
free header from a corner, but it took United just two minutes to reply
through a Darren Fletcher strike.
However, despite all their huffing and puffing, United seemed to
lack the firepower and creative spark given to them by the injured
Cristiano Ronaldo and the visitors held on reasonably comfortably to
secure an excellent start to the season.
Team News
Fraizer Campbell was a surprise starter up-front for United with
Carlos Tevez a late withdrawal for personal reasons, while Darren
Fletcher played on the right-hand side of midfield due to Cristiano
Ronaldo and Nani being out with injury and suspension respectively.
Wayne Rooney also started having missed last week’s Community Shield
victory while recovering from a virus.
Newcastle handed debuts to Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez and
Fabricio Coloccini, while Obafemi Martins returned after a family
bereavement to start as the lone striker for the Geordies.
First Half
The game got off to a lively start and within minutes both sides had
half-hearted penalty claims turned down by referee Mike Riley. In the
second minute Ryan Giggs’ free-kick struck James Milner’s arm before
Gutierrez was felled by Nemanja Vidic moments later for no reward,
although replays did show that contact had taken place just outside of
the box.
After five minutes United should have been ahead. Rooney cut in from
the left and floated in a perfect cross that Campbell met at pace with
a firm header from close range. Somehow though, Newcastle ‘keeper Shay
Given denied him a glorious start to the season with a fantastic
reaction stop.
The champions were rampant and were piling on the pressure. Fifteen
minutes in and Given did superbly to deny both Rooney and Paul Scholes
from close-range after the Newcastle defence allowed United too much
space and it seemed like just a matter of time before the Reds would
turn their advantage into goals.
However, it was the visitors who struck first. United stopper Edwin
van der Sar clumsily punched out a routine catch, which eventually
resulted in a Newcastle corner. Milner floated the ball in from the
right and Martins lost Fletcher with ease and firmly headed the ball past van der Sar and Scholes on the line.
But it took United just two minutes to respond. Giggs powered past Habib Beye and angled in a firm cross that was met by Fletcher
who powered towards the near post and struck past Given to atone for
his poor marking for Martins’ goal, the visitors paying the price as
Steven Taylor was off the field for treatment.
Michael Carrick suffered an injury – a major blow to his
international hopes after yesterday’s re-call – and was therefore
replaced by John O’Shea as the game began to quieten down after the
frantic opening 25 minutes.
The home side could go in at half-time content that they had had the
better of the opening exchanges, but Magpies boss Kevin Keegan will be
pleased at the fight shown by his team after they looked like being
overran for the first fifteen minutes of play.
Second Half
Newcastle were clearly buoyed by their strong showing in the latter
stages of the first half and Martins warmed van der Sar’s hands with a
trademark powerful long-range strike. But The Toon had to be wary of
the threat of the champions’ swift counter-attacks whenever they
committed too many players forward.
Campbell was producing an energetic display and his turn and shot
from twenty yards forced Given into a smart save at his near post.
Youngster Rodrigo Possebon then replaced Giggs for the Red Devils after
the Welshman seemingly picked up a knock -resulting in O’Shea dropping
back to left-back as the champions’ resources were tested to the limit.
Patrice Evra, pushed forward to the left wing after the tactical
reshuffle, whipped in an excellent cross for Campbell on 63 minutes,
which again forced Given into action after a firm header from the
ex-Hull City man.
With twenty minutes to go, the visitors could seriously hold out
hopes for a superb point as the champions began to start running out of
ideas going forward. But United were determined to pick up all three
points and Vidic headed a Fletcher corner into the ground and on to the
bar.
But the home side created little in the last fifteen minutes, and
Rooney’s free-kick that fell narrowly wide in the dying seconds was the
closest an off colour United came to a winning goal.
Keegan and Newcastle celebrated like they would a victory after the
full-time whistle having put in a solid performance that will raise
hopes ahead of the new campaign. Sir Alex Ferguson will be demanding an
immediate improvement after his side failed to impress after an
outstanding first half hour.
Chris Myson, Goal.com
Last update : 17-08-2008 23:33
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