Given the state in which we went to Ukraine this week (limping), it's hard to argue with last night's result. Last night was all about not losing in what could yet be our most difficult game of the group phase. David Moyes had to simply find a way of getting a point from a venue no English club had ever come away short of a defeat.
Ahead of the game, we were dealt a huge blow with the news that Wayne was unwell and hence unable to make the squad. Danny Welbeck took his place and thankfully for us managed to get himself another big Champions league away goal. Turns out that he might never be a great goalscorer but could yet be a scorer of great goals.
We lost our advantage largely due to a poor second half display that robbed us of any real attacking impetus. In absence of attacking play though, we still managed to defend well. The goal conceded was more of an accident than anything else as the otherwise excellent Vidic was surprised by the cross-shot that came out to him.
In the end though, we did just enough to keep us top of the group after MatchDay 2 and as long as we're there, we can't really complain. You feel though that we have to beat Real Soceidad to take advantage of the meeting between our two challengers in the group; Leverkusen and Shaktar.
Attention will now turn to that trip to Sunderland which became a very important fixture from the momet West Brom scored a second goal last weekend. We can't afford anything other than a win there. For all our problems and apparent 'crisis', we still have enough in us to get the points against the also-runs in the league. Last weekend is the kind of weekend we must shed blood to avoid, if only for the fact that we are Manchester United.
Labels: UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
