Before I took an unwanted leave form this site, I wrote an article about how we were all dealing with the torrid week that Liverpool had put us in after that 4-1 drubbing at OT. The following Friday, we had the UEFA CL Quaterfinal and semi-final draw. Without exaggerating, that was the highlight of the week as far as positives were concerned for Manchester United. A tie with FC Porto in the last 8 and a with Arsenal being the strongest opponents we could face in the Semis, it was fair to say that the draw couldn't have gone better for Manchester United. The only worry for us now as far as the Champions League is concerned is that we have both second-legs away from home. We might have to seal our qualification in the first legs at home as away ties are usually not easy.
Then came the disaster that not even a Soothsayer would have seen! On the day we were supposed to be watching a United backlash, Fulham played us off the Park in the first-half and effectively saw off United with brilliant counter-attacking football in the second half. 2-0 it finished and United ended the game two men less. Scholes got his second red red card for United this season for a deliberate handball on the goal line (the first was in the Super Cup), whilst Rooney was harshly sent off for two yellows. Without wasting time on that issue, the ref was not as fair as he should have been.
It was the first time in 4 years that United had lost back to back league games in the league and what had been a mammoth lead at the summit of the league is now as slender as it could get. United now have only a game in hand as security for their table leadership and given that they will play their last game in hand in the last few weeks of the season, teh Dippers will almost surely enjoy a psychological lead over us if we don't defend our slender lead. If bouncing back against Fulham was too hard for the United players, doing it against Aston Villa will be harder. The other worry for United is that they have to do it without Wayne Rooney and Vidic plus Scholes and the usual absentees as far as injuries are concerned. It's a trying time for every United fan. United might still end the season in glory, but this is another example of why it is difficult being a United fan.
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