FaC: United 2 - 1 Portsmouth
PREVIEW
If current theories prevail, United are in for a stroll this evening against a team with an even higher average age. This is the fourth round of the FA Cup and a step closer to important silverware but for both sides, the manner of United’s defeat at Arsenal will cast a long shadow.
United will be hurt by the failure at the Emirates Stadium and by the pasting they took in the post-match reviews. The ‘Dad’s Army’ tag will stick, as will the notion that United run out of steam aer 20 minutes. That alone should encourage Portsmouth in the closing stages of today’s tie, especially if the game is tight.
“We were all gutted by what happened at Arsenal,” Sir Alex said. “But the response in training has been exactly what you would have expected. This week’s sessions have been intense, all the players are fully motivated and hopefully we will get a positive result.
“If we’re winning 1-0 with seven minutes to in the next few games, it won’t happen again. There has been a casualness at the back aer we have gone in front in games.
“But if you go back over 15 years at this club, that’s always been there. It drives us mad, because sometimes we become too comfortable.”
Sir Alex surprisingly selected a very strong eleven in the previous round at Villa and must be sorely tempted to offer a chance of redemption to those players whose concentration fell away last weekend. However, all indications are that the manager will ‘freshen-up’ his team with “one or two” members from the fringe.
Portsmouth, enterprising and with no little talent, are unrecognisable from the side that struggled to avoid relegation last season. The clever Harry Redknapp has bolstered his team with some smart and experienced recruits – reviving Kanu’s career aer he bombed at West Brom, should be written up like Lazarus - and Portsmouth will be well-organised and highly motivated for the encounter.
That said, they are no Arsenal, so United should find the going much easier. Wayne Rooney should look to add to his goal tally and Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to rebound from the frustrations of his running battle with Emmanuel ‘Martin Keown’ Eboue.
Sir Alex ought to unleash the pace of Louis Saha too, especially given the ages of Campbell and Lauren in the opposing rearguard.
An invigorated United, playing at Old Trafford with a poor image to dispel – there can only be one winner.
FA CUP RESULTS
Luton T. 0 - 4 Blackburn; Barnet 0 - 2 Plymouth Argyle; Birmingham C. 2 - 3 Reading; Blackpool 1 - 1 Norwich ; Bristol C. 2 - 2 Middlesbrough; Crystal Palace 0 - 2 Preston North End; Derby County 1 - 0 Bristol Rovers; Fulham 3 - 0 Stoke City; Ipswich T. 1 - 0 Swansea C. Tottenham H. 3 - 1 Southend; West Ham U. 0 - 1 Watford
MATCH REPORT…
United 2 - 1 Portsmouth
Rooney (76, 82) / Kanu (85)
Substitute Wayne Rooney provided the crucial injection of class to ease United past a stubborn Portsmouth side and into the last 16 of the FA Cup.
Two goals from the young striker broke the hearts of the visitors whose stout defending threatened for long periods to take this game to a replay at Fratton Park.
Rooney was rested for this match along with Cristiano Ronaldo, who was in the stands, so that the tyros would be in shape for the more important battles ahead. Worryingly, reports from Old Trafford suggest that Louis Saha has suffered yet another knee injury.
Thank goodness then that Rooney has found his goal touch. Until his arrival in the 59th minute, United were busy and inventive but lacked precision in front of goal.
The first half quickly established the pattern of the game. United swarmed forward with Evra and Park catching the eye, only for Portsmouth, most often in the form of the immense Sol Campbell, to intervene smartly to avert danger.
United should have taken the lead on 11 minutes when Vidic’s bullet header from outside the six yard box crossed the goal line, only to be kicked away to safety by the Portsmouth midfielder Mendes. Television replays showed it was clearly a goal but the blundering linesman refused United’s appeals and referee Mike Riley waved on play.
Efforts from Park, Larsson and Carrick were foiled by Portsmouth’s defence and United ended the 45 minutes wondering if the combined 68 years of Larsson and Solskjaer would provide sufficient pace and cutting edge to test sufficiently the well-drilled visitors.
The second half begun as the first had ended. United continued to drive forward, smothering a brief flurry from Portsmouth in which Primus headed just over the bar but again were denied by inaccurate finishing and fine stops from keeper David James.
An evening of poor decisions continued when Larsson’s excellent finish in the 55th minute, when he turned onto a pass and in one movement swept the ball into the net, was ruled off-side. Again, the television monitor showed the Swedish hitman to be in line with the last defender and worthy of receiving the benefit of the doubt.
Enter Wayne Rooney. The Scouse forward took over from the anonymous Solskjaer and immediately United stepped up a gear. In the 76th minute, an excellent move began with Michael Carrick, enjoying the home side’s midfield dominance, who found Larsson with an astute pass from deep. The ball was quickly worked further left to Giggs, rushing in on the Portsmouth goal. The Welshman showed great alertness in not shooting himself, preferring instead to roll the ball across the box to a grateful Rooney, who tapped in from four yards out.
Finally, United’s all round dominance had found its reward. The gloss of the performance came in the 82 minute when Rooney received the ball some 25 yards out, with Campbell in front of him and James somewhat off his line. Two touches later and the ball had nestled into the back of the Portsmouth net and United were two goals ahead. A chip of sublime simplicity, almost a training ground goal, had delivered a deserved victory.
United being United, there was still a twist in the tale four minutes later when a Mendes shot deflected in off Kanu to give Portsmouth the glimpse of a last gasp rescue mission. This time, United stuck to the task and finished the game comfortable winners.
TEAM
United:Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Park, Carrick,Scoles, Giggs (Fletcher 84), Larsson, Solskjaer (Rooney 59)
Subs: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Silvestre
POST SCRIPT
Sir Alex: “I’m pleased with the performance and they all worked hard. It was great to score late on considering we run out of steam in the last 20 minutes! I’m just glad to win the game as it would have been a real kick in the teeth if we’d lost that given we had two goals disallowed.”
Rooney’s Goal: “It was a fantastic goal and I remember Eric doing that in the FA Cup against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane (in 1995). It was nice to get Wayne scoring. The chip really was world class.”
Harry Redknapp: “We were always in the game. You’re sitting there thinking maybe we might go up the other end and nick one. It was one of those days where it could have happened and overall I’m pleased with the way the lads played. I’m a big fan of Rooney, he’s a fantastic talent, no doubts about that. He came on and did some great things.”
