Forget the fact that there was role reversal towards the end whereby the away side was looking for a late equaliser at Old Trafford, this league is not as easy as many think it is. United, nonetheless did play like United. I mean you only have to look at the video of the game against Sunderland and compare with that of yesterday to appreciate what I mean. Right from the first whistle, our lads clicked and went in search of goals and I must say that but for Jaaskalenean, it could have been a more comfortable afternoon for United.
The goals came from a Zhat Night deflection and a first for the club for Mr. Antonio Valencia who must have read one or two things about him on this blog and thence upped his game. His speed was vital for us as it complemented Giggs vision and intelligence on the other side.
Now this is not for a full match report, but rather to make one or two notes.
You have to feel for Berbatov because this lad does really make us tick upfront and yet the goals do not flow for him as much as he and all of us would like. I don't know how many point-blank chances he had to score in the derby but Given somehow kept him out. He was so good yesterday that you thought he deserved a goal. First Owen unfortunately got in the way of what could have been a superb goal in the first half, then the Bolton keeper somehow kept out his acrobatic volley in the second half. I really think the team is more like United when Berba is in. He does complement the talents of both Owen and Rooney.
Anderson did well in midfield--he tends to blow hot and cold these days. Ferdinand more like himself at the back--whether this was because of the return of EVDS is something that we'll never know. It was gutting not to keep a clean sheet, but when you consider what the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool went through in their respective games, we'll take the win as edgy as it was.
Top of the league again! One really hopes that we stay there much longer than we did a couple of weeks ago.
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