Manchester United continued their 100% start to the season with a less than convincing victory over an impressive Chelsea side. Both sides served up the game of the season thus far in a match that will be remembered for a horror miss from Fernando Torres rather than the sublime attacking football that was on show. A game, which was also littered with mistakes, was settled by goals from Smalling, Nani and Rooney but in truth the scoreline could have been anything had both sides taken the gilt edged chances that were created.
United went in to the game, once again, without Rio Ferdinand. The 32 year old missed out due to another niggling calf injury that must place further doubts over his long term future at the club. There was a time when fans would have been worried at his absence but the emergence of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling this season has laid rest to those fears. The former again deputised admirably at the centre of defence alongside Jonny Evans with Smalling slotting in at right back. The other selection headache Sir Alex had ahead of the game was who to partner with Anderson in central midfield. Fletcher got the nod and he was a welcome returnee to the side.
United held on to their 3-1 advantage to go two points clear at the top of the table after Manchester City dropped points at Craven Cottage earlier in the day. Next up for the Reds is Leeds in the third round of the Carling Cup before making the short trip down the M6 to face Stoke.
Post Match Debate
Goal analysis: Offside?
United took a 2-0 lead thanks, in part, to two offside calls that went their way. Firstly, Chris Smalling strayed ahead of the last Chelsea defender before getting on the end of Young’s sublime cross. It was fractional but he was offside. It was a tough call for the linesman to make with so many bodies on the edge of the 18 yard box. Chelsea will feel aggrieved but they should also look at their slack defending. Lampard was the man charged with marking Smalling but he looked lost when a little bit of movement allowed the 21 year old to escape his attentions and have a free header. Even if Smalling had let it go, Evans, who was onside, was lurking behind to slot home. It was terribly slack marking from Chelsea who were duly punished for not picking up their men and having such a high line from the free kick.
The second goal from Nani was an equally tight decision for the linesman to make. The Portuguese winger was making his way back from an offside position when Evans sent a raking cross field pass over to the right wing. When Nani collected the ball he was 5 yards onside making it appear like he was never offside. It was only when the replays were shown that it came to light he was, like Smalling, fractionally offside when the ball was played. However, like the first goal Chelsea must look at their own poor defending. As Nani brought the ball forward, Mata hung a leg out as a token gesture for a tackle. When he skipped past that challenge, no Blue shirt came to close him down quick enough and he unleashed a ferocious strike in to the top corner.
Chelsea contributed to their own downfall but will feel hard done by as both goals were offside. However, United will feel these decisions go some way to making up for the decisions they have been on the wrong side off in recent years against the Blues.
Nani – Man of the Match
Luis Nani turned in his best performance of the season, as many around him turned in their weakest, and deservedly claimed the man of the match award. He was exceptional from start to finish and Ashley Cole must have been glad when Phil Dowd blew for full time. He teased, tormented and dominated the England left back in a way few others can claim to have done. He jinked past Cole time and again, sucking him in with close control and skill on the ball before bursting away with explosive pace. In one particularly pleasing incident in the second half, he nutmegged Cole who was left sitting on the ground as Nani sped away up the right wing. It was great play from a player who was full of confidence following his stunning first half goal.
He has always had to contend with the Ronaldo comparisons and questions of him living in his shadow. The following stat was wheeled out after the game and has been repeated to death but it is nonetheless fascinating. In his first 100 Premier League games, Ronaldo scored 19 goals and had 12 assists. Yesterday was Nani’s 100thPremier League game and he has also scored 19 goals but has 21 more assists. Yes Nani is older than what Cristiano was but it is still great to see the contribution he has made to the team when so many people have doubted him. He’s had a quiet start to the season but announced his arrival yesterday. Now he has to kick on and produce more performances like that.
Rooney and Torres: Slips and misses
Wayne Rooney will thank Fernando Torres for taking the spotlight off him after the Spaniards horror miss late in the game. Prior to the Chelsea forwards sitter, Rooney had done his best John Terry impression by slipping as he struck the penalty awarded after Bosingwa was adjudged to have fouled Nani in the box. If that wasn’t bad enough, he then fluffed his lines when ten yards from goal and scuffed a shot on to the post with only Cech to beat. It was two awful moments for the Premier Leagues top scorer who was debuting his new Nike boots. Maybe you should have stuck with the ones that had served you so well in the opening 4 league games, eh Wayne?
Nevertheless, Rooney’s blushes were saved by one of the most remarkable misses you are ever likely to see. As Torres rounded De Gea and faced an empty goal, every United fan feared the remaining seven minutes. It was already tense but with the scoreline at 3-2 and less than 10 minutes to go, it was going to be excruciating. Those fears were to be allayed when Torres proceeded to screw the ball wide with the goal at his mercy. Forget Ronnie Rosenthal, this miss was worse. It will be played over and over and over again. It will be in every bloopers DVD and video reel in the world. It’s a miss he’ll want to forget but one he will never be allowed to forget.
The other main talking point from the game, aside from Torres’ shocking miss, is the reckless challenge from Ashley Cole on Javier Hernandez. As the ball rebounded off the post from Rooney’s scuffed effort, Hernandez struck a shot from a tight angle before crumpling in a heap screaming in pain. Cole had obviously caught the little Mexican as he lunged in to block the shot. The replays showed the challenge was lot more dangerous than on first viewing. Phil Dowd was called over by his linesman who had spotted the incident and presumably instructed Dowd the challenge merited a booking but not a penalty as the ball was already out of play.
Cole was lucky to escape with just a booking, it was a red card challenge but I think he genuinely went to block the ball and didn’t intend to hurt Hernandez. It was a lunge and it was high but it’s a natural challenge when you are diving in to block a shot. It does not excuse the challenge but I don’t think he should be vilified for it. Hernandez will be lucky to escape without serious injury but it was a good sign he was able to walk down the tunnel. We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed he is only out for weeks rather than months.
Player Ratings:
De Gea 7, Smalling 7, Jones 7, Evans 7, Evra 6, Nani 9, Anderson 6, Fletcher 7, Young 6, Rooney 6, Hernandez 6. Subs: Valencia 7, Carrick 6, Berbatov 6.
By Mick Higgins (Follow Mick on Twitter)
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Evans stood there like an idiot as usual when Torres skipped past him into the penalty box and incredibly missed. Okay, Jones failed to track Torres and was punished with a goal, but he did make up for his ball watching when he got tighter to Torres on subsequent plays.
ReplyDeleteAgainst Benfica, again Evans failed to mark the giant striker, too slow, too inept.
How did he get 7 rating against Chelsea??? It was more like a 4 or 5.
I would give more to De Gea, he kept the team in the game and was busy all time, he just missed Torres ball but he could as welll stop that.
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