Paul Scholes marked his 600th Manchester United appearance in trademark fashion, supplying the killer through ball that could eventually seal an 18th league championship for the Red Devils.
Chelsea's failure to beat Everton at Stamford Bridge leaves Liverpool as United's only realistic title rivals. And goals from Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick mean Alex Ferguson's men are now three points clear of their north-west rivals, with a game in hand.
It would be Scholes' ninth title medal. He deserves it for the sublime defence-splitting pass that set up Carrick seven minutes from time after United had failed to capitalise on Rooney's early opener.
Unusually for Scholes, until his telling late intervention he was fairly subdued as he joined Bill Foulkes, Sir Bobby Charlton and long-time team-mate Giggs in United's exclusive 600 club.
In fact, it was midfield partner Anderson and evergreen Giggs - who has now turned out an incredible 799 times for his only professional club - who caught the eye.
The pair were at the heart of most United attacking moves, combining in brilliant fashion for Rooney's early opener.
As Ferguson is well aware, quick goals are vital at this stage of the season, when nerves can create so many problems at both ends of the table.
So the United boss must have been delighted to see Anderson sent Giggs flying down the left flank with a brilliant reverse pass that found the Welshman just onside.
With 10 championship medals to his name, Giggs is not in the habit of panicking in such situations. And he calmly rolled his cross along the six-yard box, where Rooney gleefully tapped him.
Had Rooney been allowed to dart onto another precise Giggs pass at the end of a one-sided opening period, United would have had the victory they craved wrapped up with half the game remaining.
Instead, a very marginal offside decision went against them, as did a failure to convert a series of excellent chances, the best of which fell to Giggs.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the provider with a low cross from the right. Giggs deft chip sailed over David James but bounced agonisingly wide of the post.
Substitute John O'Shea, who replaced Gary Neville shortly after Rooney's opener, had a header cleared off the line by Nadir Belhadj, with Giggs spurning another opportunity after Rooney had sent him through, United's stand-in skipper firing straight at James.
The half-time introduction of Jermaine Pennant brought some pace to Portsmouth's forward line.
The problem for Pompey was they struggled to get into an area where it might be exploited.
On the one occasion they did, Glen Johnson was the provider. But Edwin van der Sar read his idea and pushed the England defender's low cross away from Peter Crouch.
Van der Sar was one of nine changes to Ferguson's controversial FA Cup semi-final line-up.
Yet still the United manager could afford to leave Rio Ferdinand out altogether and have both Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez on the bench.
Despite Tevez's declaration that he will almost certainly have to seek pastures new in the summer, he remains a major crowd favourite at Old Trafford.
Certainly once O'Shea had limped off, leaving Ferguson with a single remaining substitution, it was the Argentina star most United fans wanted to see introduced.
By then, anxiety appeared to have set in. In addition to Johnson's cross, Van der Sar had to keep out a mis-hit volley from Crouch and a far more dangerous header from the same man that seemed destined for the bottom corner.
Rooney would have restored a sense of calm if he had finished instead of firing straight at James after shrugging off the attentions of Johnson to reach Van der Sar's long punt forward.
Yet Portsmouth's urgency left Ferguson to conclude neither Tevez nor Berbatov would be needed, bringing on Michael Carrick instead to help steady the ship.
The tactic worked a dream, although probably not in the way Ferguson imagined as the England man collected Scholes' superb pass and finished smartly.
It left Pompey dangling precariously six points above the drop zone, facing a crucial trip to Newcastle on Monday.
By then, United will be getting ready to face Arsenal in a Champions League semi-final, with Scholes hoping another of those cherished title medals is within touching distance.
Showing posts with label man utd v portsmouth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label man utd v portsmouth. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
United v Portsmouth-Preview
Manchester United's bid for a hat-trick of Premier League titles continues with the visit of struggling Portsmouth to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils may have lost top spot by the time they take to the field, having also suffered an FA Cup semi-final defeat at the weekend, going down 4-2 on penalties to Everton.
Sir Alex Ferguson courted controversy by leaving a number of first-team regulars out of his side for that game, but he will not do so again for the arrival of Pompey.
Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will be fit to feature, the England striker having missed Sunday's loss to his former club due to a foot injury.
Midfielder Darren Fletcher also returns to the squad, as should Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, but Michael Carrick is struggling with a slight knock.
Ferguson admitted ahead of the game: "We did our analysis of the semi-final on the train back. It's done and now we move on to Wednesday, it's a big game for us.
"We've got seven league games left to play and I hope we win them all."
Pompey travel to the north-west boosted by a crucial 1-0 victory at home to Bolton Wanderers at the weekend.
That win lifted Paul Hart's side six points clear of the relegation places, despite recent criticism that the team had been too negative.
However, they are almost certain to be without key midfielder Niko Kranjcar, who was stretchered off in the morale-boosting 1-0 win at Fratton Park.
However, scans have revealed no significant damage and Kranjcar may only miss one game.
Hart commented: "He's looking a lot better. We're hopeful he'll be back sooner rather than later.
"He's a quick healer, a boy with a strong and positive mental attitude and that's a big boost for us, because he's an integral part of our plans and has been doing well."
Elsewhere, defender Younes Kaboul is likely to miss out due to a thigh muscle strain, but midfielder Sean Davis has been given the all-clear to face United despite injuring his knee against the Trotters.
The Red Devils may have lost top spot by the time they take to the field, having also suffered an FA Cup semi-final defeat at the weekend, going down 4-2 on penalties to Everton.
Sir Alex Ferguson courted controversy by leaving a number of first-team regulars out of his side for that game, but he will not do so again for the arrival of Pompey.
Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will be fit to feature, the England striker having missed Sunday's loss to his former club due to a foot injury.
Midfielder Darren Fletcher also returns to the squad, as should Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, but Michael Carrick is struggling with a slight knock.
Ferguson admitted ahead of the game: "We did our analysis of the semi-final on the train back. It's done and now we move on to Wednesday, it's a big game for us.
"We've got seven league games left to play and I hope we win them all."
Pompey travel to the north-west boosted by a crucial 1-0 victory at home to Bolton Wanderers at the weekend.
That win lifted Paul Hart's side six points clear of the relegation places, despite recent criticism that the team had been too negative.
However, they are almost certain to be without key midfielder Niko Kranjcar, who was stretchered off in the morale-boosting 1-0 win at Fratton Park.
However, scans have revealed no significant damage and Kranjcar may only miss one game.
Hart commented: "He's looking a lot better. We're hopeful he'll be back sooner rather than later.
"He's a quick healer, a boy with a strong and positive mental attitude and that's a big boost for us, because he's an integral part of our plans and has been doing well."
Elsewhere, defender Younes Kaboul is likely to miss out due to a thigh muscle strain, but midfielder Sean Davis has been given the all-clear to face United despite injuring his knee against the Trotters.
Fixture: Manchester United v Portsmouth
Competition: Barclays Premier league
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Time:20.00 UK 00.25 IST (Thursday)
Date:22.4.09
Channel: ESPN India
Competition: Barclays Premier league
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Time:20.00 UK 00.25 IST (Thursday)
Date:22.4.09
Channel: ESPN India
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