Matchday 16 ~ Man.United vs Derby County

[D. Stankovic]

Some good milestones there, for Rooney and Neville.

Manchester to win, of course

[Brasil]

HT		Manchester U. [2 - 0] Derby County
32'			C. Davis
40'	[1 - 0]	R. Giggs
45'	[2 - 0]	C.A. Tevez
Copyright © 1998-2007 LiveScore.com

[Brasil]

FT		Manchester U. [4 - 1] Derby County
32'			C. Davis
40'	[1 - 0]	R. Giggs
45'	[2 - 0]	C.A. Tevez
52'			A. Griffin
60'	[3 - 0]	C.A. Tevez
76'	[3 - 1]		S. Howard
90'	[4 - 1]	C. Ronaldo (pen.)
Copyright © 1998-2007 LiveScore.com

Scary first half for manure they almost went into the dressing rooms 0-0

[scotttttttttttttt]

Ronaldo should have let Tevez take the penalty so he could get his hattrick

[Freddy Adu]

Originally Posted by scotttttttttttttt

Ronaldo should have let Tevez take the penalty so he could get his hattrick

Bitch ass Ronaldo.
I laughed because when Ronaldo scored Rooney slapped him in the face

[scotttttttttttttt]

Once United had broken Derby County’s spirit with two goals at the end of the first half, this was a simple three points. But battling against the elements – wind and persistent heavy rain – the Reds had to earn it.

Ryan Giggs got United started, followed by a brace for Carlos Tevez – one either side of half time. The victory could have been by a greater margin, but this was a steady and efficient display.

Owen Hargreaves was withdrawn from the starting eleven shortly before kick-off due to injury. Michael Carrick took his place in midfield alongside Anderson, while Nani was promoted to the bench.

Conditions were hardly ideal. Near-constant rain in Manchester for two days prior to kick-off had formed surface water on the Old Trafford pitch, making it difficult for United to play the usual passing game.

Derby boss Paul Jewell perhaps welcomed the stifling conditions as the rain continued to lash down at the start of the game. With Derby rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and his personal record against United suggesting he needed all the help he could get. In seven games against the Reds as a manger – twice for Bradford City, five times for Wigan Athletic – his teams have never won and have conceded 24 goals.

United probed right from the start to add to that figure. In the first five minutes Tevez performed a neat one-two with Patrice Evra, who crossed for Rooney. The Reds front man flicked his shot goalwards, but failed to direct it under close attention from Darren Moore. Moments later Ronaldo, who isn’t short of
confidence with 11 goals in his last eight starts, went close with a surging run and a low shot that skidded wide.

The Portuguese winger then combined with Giggs to create space down the left side. Ronaldo squared his cross to Rooney, but Derby defender James McEveley somehow wrapped his foot round to clear the ball four yards from the line.

United were gradually edging closer to a breakthrough. But, although Derby didn’t really pose an attacking threat that suggested they would take the lead, their physical back four and five-man midfield – added to the tricky conditions – made for a frustrating first 40 minutes for the Reds.

Anderson proved pivotal in breaking Derby’s resistance. The Brazilian midfielder not only proved a point that he can play in most compromising of wintry conditions, his energy and passing kept the visitors under pressure and pinned back in their own area. It soon paid off. On 41 minutes, Ronaldo’s parried shot fell kindly to Ryan Giggs, who had the simple task of tapping in his first goal since the middle of October, his 100th league goal for the club.

Rooney then struck a post as United lifted the tempo. Giggs’ diagonal pass put the striker through, but although his chipped finish beat Stephen Bywater, his shot rebounded off the upright. A second goal did arrived with seconds of the half to spare, Tevez finishing well after a frantic scramble in the box.

Derby’s spirit was clearly broken and it became harder in the second half to resist United’s advances. Giggs struck a post on 58 minutes and it was merely a matter of time before a third goal arrived. In fact, it took just two minutes. Tevez unleashed a skidding, low drive from just inside the area for his second of the match.

Anderson departed shortly after, replaced by Darren Fletcher, to a fully deserved standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd. Sir Alex had the chance to rest Ferdinand and Giggs ahead of the busy Christmas period.

Derby did manage to snatch a fortunate consolation strike with just under fifteen minutes remaining. From Tyrone Mears’ cross on the right, Wes Brown and Steve Howard challenged for the ball, which ended up trickling over the line, despite the best efforts of Nemanja Vidic to clear it off the line. It’s only the second league goal United have conceded at Old Trafford this season. But Sir Alex is unlikely to be too concerned given that, at this stage of the campaign, three points are the main priority.

United capped off the day with a fourth goal in injury time. Ronaldo was fouled by Mears in the area and referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot. It may be the Christmas season, but Ronaldo wasn't about to be charitable and give Tevez a shot at his hat-trick. Instead, the Portuguese stepped up to fire home his 14th goal of the season.

[scotttttttttttttt]

Team Line-ups

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand (O’Shea 71), Vidic, Evra; Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson (Fletcher 63), Giggs (Saha 65); Tevez, Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Nani.

Derby County: Bywater; Griffin, Davis, Moore, McEveley (Mears 46),
Leacock, Oakley, Pearson, Barnes (Teale 61), Fagan (Howard 46), Miller. Subs not used: Price (GK), Earnshaw.

Attendance: 75,725

[D. Stankovic]

Originally Posted by Cristian Rodríguez

Bitch ass Ronaldo.
I laughed because when Ronaldo scored Rooney slapped him in the face

Got a video?

Anyways, good stuff coming from Manchester, could have been better, but we still played well and won. Tevez, shining once again.

[Freddy Adu]

FT Manchester U. 4 - 1 Derby County

[Freddy Adu]

FT		Manchester U. [4 - 1] Derby County
32'			C. Davis
40'	[1 - 0]	R. Giggs
45'	[2 - 0]	C.A. Tevez
52'			A. Griffin
60'	[3 - 0]	C.A. Tevez
76'	[3 - 1]		S. Howard
90'	[4 - 1]	C. Ronaldo (pen.)

[Freddy Adu]

Farking Manure.

[Freddy Adu]

Originally Posted by D. Stankovic

Got a video?

Anyways, good stuff coming from Manchester, could have been better, but we still played well and won. Tevez, shining once again.

I'll get it.

[Freddy Adu]

Giggs and Tevez do for Derby


Written by: AFP

	Manchester United´s Carlos Tevez(L) challenges Derby´s Claude Davis during their Premiership clash at Old Trafford in Manchester. Manchester United won 4-1.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Ryan Giggs scored his 100th Premier League goal, with Carlos Tevez adding a double, as Manchester United moved to within a point of leaders Arsenal after a 4-1 win against basement club Derby County at Old Trafford here Saturday.

Steve Howard did at least score Derby's first away league goal of the season, in their ninth attempt, before Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty set the seal on United's victory.

The Red Devils initially found it tough to break the visitors down but Giggs managed it from close-range in the 40th minute and Wayne Rooney hit the post before Tevez added a second before the interval.

Michael Carrick was a late addition to the United starting line-up in the place of Owen Hargreaves but despite enduring a testing afternoon, United made it eight wins out of nine in the league at Old Trafford this season.

The statistics do not lie about Derby's problems at either end but, with the Old Trafford playing surface soaked by heavy rain in Manchester, it was the visitors that would have been happiest with the opening exchanges.

United were creating chances, but with puddles on the pitch, they grew increasingly frustrated at their inability to open the Rams up.

In the sixth minute, a Giggs corner was headed wide by Rio Ferdinand and Rooney stabbed high and wide from Patrice Evra's low cross.

Derby were compact and even managed to threaten themselves, with Giles Barnes testing Edwin van der Sar with a skidding drive and James McEveley firing wide after Nemanja Vidic was careless in possession.

As the hosts looked to force the issue, Ronaldo cut inside Matt Oakley and Claude Davis but scuffed his shot, Giggs missed with a free-kick and Rooney had a shot deflected off target.

But the closest United came early on was when Ronaldo, finding space on the left, saw his low cross turned away by McEveley with Rooney set to pounce in the 24th minute. Soon afterwards, Ronaldo was not far off with a thumping free-kick from 35 yards.

But five minutes before half-time, the breach was finally made with Giggs's 100th goal in the league in his 519th appearance.

Craig Fagan failed to close down Ronaldo and, after the Portuguese's shot was only parried by Bywater, Giggs pounced to side-foot in from six yards.

Three minutes later, Rooney controlled Welsh winger Giggs's drilled pass with real quality, as he got the wrong side of Davis, but his subtle chip came back off the post with Bywater beaten.

In the final minute before the interval, Tevez stabbed in from close range after Ronaldo's soft free-kick was allowed to bobble around in the box and McEveley failed to clear.

Another Barnes drive made sure that Van der Sar was still awake after the restart and the Dutchman made hard work of a straight-forward save.

At the other end, Wes Brown's cross from the right found Giggs at the far post and his low effort came back off Bywater's left post.

But United did not have long to wait before their advantage was extended further, with Tevez latching on to a Brown pass and rifling past Bywater.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Derby finally scored a first goal on their travels this season.

Tyrone Mears was played in down the right and with Van der Sar stranded, his cross rebounded in off Howard's chest before Brown could hook clear.

The impressive Mears was then penalised for a late challenge on Ronaldo and the Portuguese sent Bywater the wrong way to restore the three-goal lead.

[Freddy Adu]

BTW, the PK was a fluke. Ronaldo hella overexagerated.

[Freddy Adu]

Man Utd 4-1 Derby
By Chris Bevan

[Freddy Adu]

Manchester United overcame Derby's resilience to move within a point of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

[Freddy Adu]

Interview: Manchester United's Ryan Giggs
Interview: Derby manager Paul Jewell

[Freddy Adu]

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"It was a big win. Things can happen in these conditions, they didn't suit us.

"Carlos Tevez is making a great contribution this season.

"Cristiano is our regular penalty-taker so I can understand why he wanted to take it but it would have been great for Carlos if he had scored a hat-trick."

Ferguson added: "I am surprised there was no announcement about Ryan's milestone.

"Maybe no-one knew but I certainly did. It is a fantastic achievement, absolutely marvellous."

[Freddy Adu]

Derby manager Paul Jewell:
"We did well in the first 25 minutes and kept them quiet.

"But the disappointing thing was that we gifted United too many goals. We are not going to win any matches like that.

"We have to get better but I will take the positives and at least we scored a goal and showed a bit of courage and conviction in the second half."

[Freddy Adu]

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand (O'Shea 71), Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson (Fletcher 62), Giggs (Saha 64), Rooney, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Nani.
Goals: Giggs 40, Tevez 45, 60, Ronaldo 90 pen.

[Freddy Adu]

Derby: Bywater, Griffin, Moore, Davis, McEveley (Howard 46), Leacock, Fagan (Mears 46), Oakley, Pearson, Barnes (Teale 61), Miller.
Subs Not Used: Price, Earnshaw.
Booked: Davis, Griffin.
Goals: Howard 76.

[Freddy Adu]

Att: 75,725

[Freddy Adu]

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

[Freddy Adu]

Evergreen winger Ryan Giggs clocked up a century of league goals for Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson's men overcame an early struggle to record victory over bottom club Derby County.

Carlos Tevez netted a double to ease United home and could have had a hat-trick if Ronaldo had let him take the spot-kick himself after going down under the challenge of Tyrone Mears.

But the scoreline was incredibly harsh on Derby, who remain marooned at the bottom but at least had the satisfaction of scoring their first away goal of the campaign 14 minutes from time through Steve Howard

Derby ace Giles Barnes was especially impressive and had one of the two shots which tested Edwin van der Sar during the opening period.

James McEveley had the other and had either found the net, United might well have been in trouble such was the disjointed nature of their play.

[Freddy Adu]

powerful shot

With half-time approaching, United increased the pace notably. Predictably, it took an injection of brilliance from a previously quiet Ronaldo to break the Rams' resistance in the 40th minute.

Picking up a loose ball on the left edge of the Derby area, Ronaldo darted into the box, then drove a powerful shot at goal which, on a sodden surface, keeper Bywater was unable to hold.

There have been many more memorable strikes among Giggs' previous 99 and a number of more important ones. But few will have been greeted with such an audible sigh of relief.

Wayne Rooney should have doubled United's lead on their next attack when he collected Giggs' lofted pass and sent Bywater to the ground with some neat footwork.

For some reason though, Rooney took aim before he had taken Bywater completely out of the equation and in chipping his shot over the prone keeper, sent it bouncing onto a post.

[Freddy Adu]

bottom corner

Rooney's miss did not prove costly at all given Tevez was blasting a minute before half-time home after Ronaldo's delicate free-kick had caused mayhem in the Derby area.

The 2-0 interval scoreline was harsh on the visitors, who had been fully deserving of a stalemate until United's late offensive.

They continued to impress after the re-start but such is the lopsided nature of their fight for survival, the scoreline only got worse. Giggs might have had another but drove Wes Brown's far-post cross against the post.

Brown supplied the pass for Tevez that led to number three on the hour mark, the South American mercilessly punishing Dean Leacock's failure to close him down by driving a shot into the bottom corner.

If nothing else, Jewell must take heart from the way his team still refused to buckle and Howard's effort in the 76th minute was the very least they deserved as consolation. Ronaldo completed the scoring to make it 4-1 with his last-minute penalty.

[Freddy Adu]

"Not many players have scored 100 league goals but the service Ryan [Giggs] has given us, quite apart from the goals, is outstanding. It is a fantastic achievement, absolutely marvellous."
- Alex Ferguson

[Freddy Adu]

"The thing that is driving me up the wall is that we keep giving goals away because of elementary, basic errors. For their opening goal, we have about four opportunities to clear and we still could not manage it."
- Paul Jewell

[Freddy Adu]

Carlos Tevez
The Argentine striker netted twice in his side's comfortable win.

[Freddy Adu]

Manchester United 4-1 Derby County