P: Charlton 0 - 3 United
Preview: CHARLTON vs. UNITED
This evening’s game in south east London is sure to find Sir Alex Ferguson’s team in good heart. Three points, five goals and eleven excellent performances were the numbers that mattered against an enfeebled Fulham side and United will hope for more of the same tonight.
A buoyant display, the return of quick, short passing, a dominant midfield and devastating wing attacks, put down an early marker for the title which had commentators in danger of exhausting their supply of superlatives.
The enforced absences of Rooney and Scholes due to suspension plus the knock suffered by Ryan Giggs, could threaten an emerging team pattern but fullback Patrice Evra will be hoping to keep his place after Sunday’s enterprising performance.
The French international has his critics, not least in these pages, but seized the opportunity presented by Sunday’s inclusion, to give hint of the talent which has deserted him since his arrival last winter. When teams pack their midfields and defend in depth, United will need a creative outlet from the wide left position to rival the consistent threat Gary Neville offers on the opposite flank. Sterner tests await but with Gabriel Heinze paying the price of a too early return to Argentina’s World Cup squad, Evra has the chance to stake a claim to the left back slot if he can maintain his form.
United’s upbeat mood is in stark contrast to a sullen Charlton looking to bounce back following a 3-1 defeat at West Ham. Iain Dowie took over the club from Alan Curbishley, a real Greenwich hero and will know that in United, his team couldn’t have a worse opponent. United were Charlton’s bogey side under Curbishley, with Ferguson never tasting defeat in all his Premiership encounters with the Londoners.
Dowie will hope for a change in luck and is happy his team will not face Wayne Rooney. Dowie said: ‘I think he’s been harshly treated with the sending off — I didn’t think there was a lot in it. But any time you’re not facing Wayne you’re delighted.’
With forwards of the calibre of Bent and Hasselbaink, Charlton could have the firepower to trouble United’s rearguard. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in particular will have fond memories of a recent contest against Rio Ferdinand. The Dutchman mauled United’s defender in the 4-1 thrashing Middlesborough handed out last November, a defeat which eventuially led to the exit of Roy Keane.
PREMIERSHIP RESULTS :
Tues: Watford 1 - 1 West Ham; Spurs 2 - 0 Sheffield United
Wed: Aston Villa 2 - 1 Reading; Manchester City 0 - 0 Portsmouth; Blackburn 1 - 1 Everton; Fulham 1 - 1 Bolton; Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Chelsea
RESULT: Charlton 0 - 3 United United: Fletcher 49; Saha 79; Solskjaer 89
MATCH REPORT…
A classic away team performance helped United to a 3-0 victory against Charlton and opened up a two point gap over champions Chelsea.
Three times United hit the woodwork, with only the thickness of bar and post, plus the less than clinical finishing of Ronaldo and Park saving the Londoners from an even heavier drubbing on a rain-sodden night in south east London.
Yet, Charlton started brightly, besting Sir Alex’s side for the first twenty five minutes. The greasy surfaced meant United’s rearguard had to be on its game. But for a 29th minute Evra slip in the penalty area, which Charlton should have converted to reward their early supremacy, United never really looked in great danger and began to take a steady grip on the game.
As the match progressed, questions were asked of United’s midfield. Ferguson had replaced the suspended Scholes with Darren Fletcher, who was ineffectual in the first half. The manager’s faith was rewarded however, when the Scottish international capitalised on a stumble by Charlton’s inaptly named Fortune. Showing great composure to outwit an oncoming defender, the Scottish international shot crisply to register his first goal of the season in the 49th minute and put United in the driving seat.
United playing neat football on the break always had the measure of Charlton and looked likely to increase their goal difference. Charlton felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty when Brown used an arm to clear an incoming centre but by now the Addicks were a spent force. Michael Carrick joined the fray as a substitute for Park, to assist United’s search for more goals.
In the 79th minute, Brown crossed infield for Saha. The attacker’s quick thinking enabled him to find space and he crashed in his shot, having carved the chance from nothing.
When the French international crossed in the 89th minute from the left to set up a tap-in for substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his first goal in three years, United were already celebrating the handsome extension of Fergie’s hoodoo over a dispirited Charlton.
TEAM…
MANCHESTER UNITED
Van Der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher,
O’Shea, Park (Carrick 76), Giggs (Solskjaer 81), Saha .
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Richardson, Rossi.
POST MATCH COMMENT…
Sir Alex: ‘It’s always a tough game here, you have to wear them down and be patient. It was a great performance by us with Gary Neville ruled out this morning and others missing, it’s a real demonstration of how strong the pool is.
‘It’s a maturing team, the young players like Fletcher and O’Shea are growing up. In the first half we could have got a bit frustrated, we played good football and deserved to be in front but we got a goal out of nothing and Darren took his goal very well.Ole is a player who has persevered in trying times and he has never lost faith that he would get his repayment one day.After three years out it was great for the fans, for the players and the supporters.’
Iain Dowie ‘I thought United played great tonight. When they play that well they’re a match for anyone in the country.’
