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Swansea 1 United 1 - December 23, 2012
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Manchester United missed the chance to extend their lead in the title race to six points as Michu came out on top in the battle of the Barclays Premier League's top scorers at the Liberty Stadium.
Patrice Evra had given United the lead in the 16th minute as he headed home from a Robin van Persie corner.
But Swansea continued their good record against the top-flight big guns as Michu finished from close range to move clear of Van Persie with his 13th league goal of the season.
United will hold a four-point lead over Manchester City at Christmas but will be left to rue a series of missed chances during the final half hour when they piled the pressure on their hosts.
Swansea felt they had shown United too much respect during this fixture last season but, after a slow start, they showed little sign of being overawed as they took the game to the visitors.
Dwight Tiendalli flashed a threatening ball across the six-yard box before Kemy Agustien freed Michu with a superb long ball, but the Spaniard sliced high and wide.
David De Gea easily saved weak efforts from Wayne Routledge and Michu, but United halted the hosts' building momentum as they took the lead.
Wayne Rooney had already warmed Michel Vorm's hands with a stinging drive before Evra put the visitors ahead, arriving to glance a header in off the far post from a Van Persie corner.
But Swansea recovered well from the blow and Jonathan de Guzman had the ball in the net two minutes later, but the effort was ruled out for Michu blocking off Jonny Evans as the midfielder advanced.
The Liberty Stadium faithful were further angered when Phil Jones was given only a yellow card for a clumsy lunge on Ben Davies, although replays suggested referee Michael Oliver had got the decision right.
But it was United who felt they had been victims of an injustice as Michu levelled on the half hour mark.
Evra was caught out by De Guzman's clever run and when De Gea could only parry the Dutchman's angled shot, Michu was on hand to tap in.
Sir Alex Ferguson was visibly angered that Van Persie was not awarded a free-kick after he and Chico Flores went to ground following the Spaniard's challenge seconds before the equaliser, and the United boss made his feelings known to referee Oliver at the break.
The goal added an extra bite to Swansea's play and they had the better of the remainder of the opening half.
De Guzman and Routledge were becoming increasingly influential for the hosts and the former should have done better after working his way into the United box on the byline, only to shoot straight at De Gea with several team-mates well placed.
But United offered a remainder of their quality in first half stoppage time when Evra easily got past Nathan Dyer and intelligently pulled the ball back to Rooney, but the England forward fired directly at Vorm.
The second half started at a furious pace and there were chances for both sides.
Michu again headed over and De Gea had to stand firm to repel Routledge's close-range strike.
At the other end Ashley Williams made two superb blocks to stop goalbound efforts from Rooney and Ashley Young after Swansea twice surrendered possession cheaply.
United were finally exerting some authority and Van Persie came close to putting them back in front as he cleverly diverted a Rooney cross goalwards, only to see his effort cannon away off the bar.
Substitute Javier Hernandez wasted another presentable chance as he failed to control Van Persie's astute pass and Vorm gratefully held the Mexican's deflected strike.
Worse was to follow for United when Rooney dispossessed Chico Flores but allowed the defender to get back and intercept a slack pass which should have given Hernandez an easy finish, much to the fury of his manager.
Tempers flared as United frustrations grew. Van Persie was struck on the head by a Williams clearance after being brought down on the edge of the box leading to some pushing and shoving and a booking apiece for the central protagonists.
Swansea were by now under incessant pressure.
Vorm tipped a Carrick header against the bar while Van Persie and Young were denied by blocks from Williams and Davies, although there was a suspicion of handball about the latter, as Swansea held out.

 

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United 3 Sunderland 1 - December 15, 2012
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Robin van Persie's 15th goal of the season ensured Manchester United will spend Christmas Day on top of the Premier League tree as they eased past Sunderland 3-1.

Tom Cleverley's first league goal at Old Trafford and Wayne Rooney's fifth in four games were enough to keep United six points clear of neighbours City, with Frazier Campbell's header against his old club scant consolation for the Wearsiders, who remain deep in relegation trouble.

Yet perhaps the most significant moment of the entire game came with Nemanja Vidic's introduction midway through the second half.

Plagued by injuries since August 2011, Vidic's absence during last season's run-in contributed to United's defensive wobbles and the Serbian is viewed as the main way of plugging the leaks that have been so obvious for a side who have still only kept three clean sheets all season.

Not for the first time, Sir Alex Ferguson used the build-up to offer support to an under-fire colleague, only for his team to dismantle them 24 hours later.

In ridiculing those who questioned Martin O'Neill's credentials, Ferguson was ignoring statistics that showed the Black Cats had won just twice in the Premier League this season, both on home soil against teams - Wigan and Reading - that are alongside them in the mire.

Within 20 minutes here, it had become apparent this was not going to be number three.

Ferguson had insisted those cheeky celebrations by Sunderland fans when the title was snatched away from their last-day visitors in May would play no part in the outcome.

Nevertheless, there was a sense of purpose about United's start which has rarely been matched this season.

Patrice Evra had already wasted one excellent opportunity when Ashley Young wriggled away from Carlos Cuellar close to the dead-ball line, then cut a cross back which Van Persie finished expertly.

Yet the goal also needed significant assistance from John O'Shea, who got himself into a muddle as he tried to clear Young's cross, which allowed Van Persie to profit.

Given Wes Brown's own goal was the difference in last season's corresponding fixture, Sunderland's ex-United contingent have not had the happiest of returns to old haunts.

Within three minutes, the hosts had their second.

If Cleverley wants to assume the Paul Scholes mantle, he needs to start finding the net more consistently.

After two goals against Newcastle earlier in the campaign, the England man finally got his first in the Premier League at Old Trafford.

It was a gem too as Cleverley exchanged passes with Michael Carrick before drilling an excellent effort past Simon Mignolet from 12 yards.

With United scenting blood, Rooney wasted a glorious chance when he volleyed wide from Van Persie's knock-down.

The England striker then steered a near-post header wide from Evra's cross as the Red Devils threatened to run riot.

Half-time was approaching before Sunderland carved out their first meaningful opportunity, which Stephane Sessegnon struck Evra with before it flew over.

The interval introduction of Conor Wickham for the injured Steven Fletcher did trigger a flurry of activity around the United goal as David de Gea denied Craig Gardner and Sessegnon.

Yet the clear chances kept falling to the hosts.

Rooney's shot rattled the bar after flicking off Titus Bramble, with Young blazing the rebound over.

Then, given the number of goals he has scored so far this season, came the somewhat surprising sight of Van Persie lobbing wide after Young had sent the Dutchman running clear of an over-stretched Sunderland defence.

There was little argument to be made for a Black Cats comeback and any pretence was ended just before the hour when an unselfish overlapping run by Van Persie was followed by a deft piece of skill that took him between Cuellar and Bramble before he set up Rooney, who tapped home from close range.

With victory assured, Ferguson felt sufficiently confident about easing Vidic back into the fray.

After only 13 appearances in a 16-month period that included a calf injury and two lots of knee surgery, the 31-year-old desperately needs to stay injury free in order to rediscover his old form.

Evidently, Vidic has plenty of work in front of him too judging by the uncharacteristic mistake that eventually led to United old-boy Campbell heading home from close range.

 

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Man City 2 United 3 - December 9, 2012
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Robin van Persie scored an injury-time winner to give Manchester United victory amid ugly scenes at the end of today's Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.

Two goals down to a first-half Wayne Rooney double, Manchester City thought they had snatched a point when Pablo Zabaleta followed up Yaya Toure's strike by driving home five minutes from time.

But after Rafael had been fouled on the edge of the area, Van Persie's free-kick flicked off Samir Nasri before cannoning in off the far post.

As United celebrated, Rio Ferdinand was struck by an object which drew blood from a cut close to his eye.

A supporter then ran onto the pitch and had to be restrained by Joe Hart before being carted away by stewards.

Sir Alex Ferguson then seemed to exchange words with former United striker Carlos Tevez before referee Martin Atkinson brought an end to a breathless afternoon.

Rooney's brace saw him jump to the top of United's scoring charts in Manchester derbies, his 10 goals taking him one clear of Sir Bobby Charlton.

United's defensive frailties have been obvious to everyone this term, so it came as something of a shock that City's rearguard was the topic of conversation at half-time.

Dominant during the opening 15 minutes, the Blues were caught cold by the visitors' first attack, started deep in their own half by Patrice Evra.

Van Persie cushioned a delightful return pass from Ashley Young's flicked header, allowing the winger to drive over halfway and drill a low cross to the edge of the area for Rooney.

Surrounded by three City defenders, Rooney took the ball to his left before cutting a shot back to the near post that Hart had no chance of keeping out.

City's concerns grew when Vincent Kompany was replaced by Kolo Toure, bringing additional uncertainty to a defence which conceded a second a short time later.

This time the surge came from the right wing as Antonio Valencia found an overlapping Rafael with a perfectly-weighted pass which the Brazilian crossed into the danger zone.

Rooney, who had been allowed to gallop unopposed from his initial pass, could not believe the space on offer which allowed him to tuck his first-time shot beyond Hart, allowing him to become the sixth player - and the youngest - to score 150 Premier League goals.

There was a conviction about United's play that was missing from City's.

Mario Balotelli, preferred up front to Carlos Tevez, was the subject of his manager's ire, yet Sergio Aguero was the one who had failed to control the Italian's through-ball when the scores were still level.

Aguero was also the player who took on the entire Red Devils defence single handedly and squeezed a shot towards the corner which David de Gea did well to keep out.

After wasting possession once too often, Balotelli was replaced by Tevez, the Italian heading straight down the tunnel, although not before fixing Mancini with an icy stare.

Ashley Young then had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside when he tucked home the rebound from a Van Persie shot that had cannoned back off a post, and United were still digesting their disappointment as City countered to pull a goal back.

De Gea produced brilliant saves to deny Tevez and David Silva, but he was unable to keep out a third strike on goal from Yaya Toure, who calmly rolled Tevez's cut-back into the bottom corner.

It was the goal that lit the touchpaper for a thrilling finale, with tackles flying in from both sides as referee Atkinson desperately tried to keep control.

Van Persie headed Cleverley's cross over before De Gea somehow kept Silva's shot out at the other end when it flicked off his shoulder and onto the crossbar.

City had the momentum though and when Tevez's corner was half-cleared into Zabaleta's path, the Argentinian thrashed home a ferocious shot through a crowded penalty area.

There was one final twist to come, though, as Van Persie stepped up to end City's 37-match unbeaten run on home soil to send United six points clear at the top.

 

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Reading 3 United 4 - December 1, 2012
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Wayne Rooney answered the goalscoring rallying cry of his manager as Manchester United twice came from behind to beat Reading 4-3 and move three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson said he wanted to see his striker find the back of the net more often and Rooney responded with two strikes in a thrilling match at the Madejski Stadium, where all seven goals came in a 34-minute spell in the first half.

Hal Robson-Kanu gave Reading an early lead before United hit back with Anderson levelling and Rooney putting them ahead from the spot. Reading stunned the visitors with two quick-fire goals to regain the lead as Adam Le Fondre and Sean Morrison capitalised on lapses in United's defence to both score with close-range headers. But another effort from Rooney and a neat finish from Robin van Persie saw United take the spoils.

The second half was less entertaining but both sides still created decent chances on a day where neither team's defending was deserving of praise.
The home side went ahead in the seventh minute after Jonny Evans could only head Jobi McAnuff's cross into the path of Robson-Kanu, who volleyed past Anders Lindegaard.

United found themselves in the familiar position of chasing a game and soon showed their ruthlessness when coming from behind. Anderson picked out Ashley Young wide on the left and the Brazil international continued his run before Young picked him out and he lashed United level. vansJust nine minutes after falling behind the visitors were ahead after Jay Tabb bundled into the back of Evans.

Reading were level just three minutes later as United fan Le Fondre wriggled free of Evans in the area to head home a Nicky Shorey corner. Brian McDermott's side have shown great resolve this season and took advantage of further poor defending from United to re-take the lead.

Moments after Rio Ferdinand had headed away a cross ta the back post, Morrison beat Evans to a corner and powered a close-range header past Lindegaard.
With title rivals Manchester City being held at home to Everton earlier in the day, United knew a win was vital ahead of the Manchester derby next weekend and they were soon back on top.

A sublime piece of skill from Young freed Patrice Evra down the left and his low cross was tucked away by Rooney to make it 3-3 with only half an hour gone.
Ferguson decided to make a tactical substitution and replaced Rafael, who had been cautioned moments earlier, with the more powerful Chris Smalling, although the Brazilian did not take kindly to being hauled off.

Just four minutes after Rooney's effort United took the lead yet again. Michael Carrick's through-ball was deflected into the path of Van Persie by a clever Rooney touch and the Dutchman slotted past Federici with his weaker right foot.

United were denied a fifth goal before half-time as Van Persie pounced on a smart Federici save and directed an effort goalwards. Adrian Mariappa was in the right place to clear but it appeared the whole of the ball had crossed the line before the former Watford man hacked it away.

The second half started much calmer but it was the home side who were pressing forward. Lindegaard fumbled a simple catch from a Shorey corner before Halsey waved away Reading appeals for a penalty after Evra won the ball in a challenge with Mariappa.

Van Persie wasted a good chance to put United two clear when he shot wide after being picked out by Phil Jones, although the ball into the ex-Arsenal striker was slightly behind him. The 29-year-old missed an even better opportunity moments later as he robbed the ball off a dallying Federici but could not hit the empty net from a relatively tight angle.

McDermott introduced Pavel Pogrebnyak for the tiring Jason Roberts as his side went in search of an equaliser. Smalling found himself in space on the right flank with just three minutes left on the clock but he could only blaze an uncontrolled effort into the United fans behind Federici's goal.

Reading pushed on in stoppage time and a Morrison header was tipped over by Lindegaard with the same player heading wide from the resulting corner as United just held on.

 

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United 3 QPR 1 - November 24, 2012
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Newly hired QPR boss Harry Redknapp left Old Trafford with plenty to ponder as Manchester United roared back to win 3-1 on Saturday and condemn QPR to the worst Premier League start any side has made after 13 games. Queens Park Rangers remains rooted to the foot of the table despite taking a second-half lead through Jamie Mackie.

Any hope Redknapp might have had of his new charges marking his installation as manager by recording their first win of the season evaporated with three United goals in a nine-minute burst. Unlikely scoring hero Jonny Evans grabbed another to pull the hosts level before Darren Fletcher found the perfect way to mark his first Premier League start in a year. Javier Hernandez bagged another to confirm United's status as leaders ahead of Manchester City's visit to Chelsea on Sunday.

Redknapp had seen enough, leaving four minutes from the end to contemplate what he has already admitted represents the biggest challenge of his managerial career. By halftime, Redknapp would have at least been able to content himself that he had something to work with. Rangers players had a sense of purpose and stuck to their defensive duties with diligence, even though they were assisted by the lackluster nature of United's display.

Stand-in manager Mark Bowen might even have had a goal to celebrate after Mackie converted an excellent cross from Djibril Cisse, only for the effort to be ruled out by a tight offside call going against him. If Redknapp, stationed alongside chief executive Philip Beard in the directors' box, could enjoy his break in positive mood, the notable United figures sat nearby, who had stayed on from yesterday's Ferguson statue unveiling, would have been less happy.

After successive defeats at Norwich and Galatasaray, the hosts should have been ready to tear at weakened opponents. Instead, they pawed around in virtual disinterest. Danny Welbeck produced cut-backs from either flank for Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney but neither marksman could hit the target, and Ashley Young also sliced the ball into the side-netting.

You would not have needed to be around as long as Redknapp to understand being goalless at halftime against a team managed by Ferguson counts for little.
On the previous 21 occasions United had been in such a position, 19 had ended in a home win.
Nevertheless, the confidence exuded by Julio Cesar to step inside a Rooney challenge deep inside the visitors' box suggested a large degree of confidence, either that or insanity.

Yet, this season at least, as much a feature of United winning has been its concession of the first goal. It had happened in United's previous four games so it was no surprise United should fall behind again.

Defensively, United was supposed to be getting stronger personnel wise. There was no evidence of it though, as United failed to read a short corner and then failed to prevent Kieron Dyer getting down the by-line. Then, after Anders Lindegaard had only been able to shove Dyer's low cross away from his goal, Mackie finished off. Within minutes, Adel Taarabt had curled a free-kick narrowly over.

Ferguson took immediate action, hauling off Paul Scholes and Young in favor of Anderson and Javier Hernandez. The change took a little while to have any discernable effect, but eventually, United brought itself level. Rooney spoke Friday about not being bothered to relinquish some of the goalscoring responsibilities he has carried since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure. He cannot have expected Evans to have picked up the mantle. Prior to this season, the Northern Irishman had only scored one United goal. When he was on hand to turn home Welbeck's header from Rooney's corner, it was his third of the season.

If that goal was well received, the one Fletcher got to put the hosts ahead from another Rooney corner triggered an emotional reaction from the Scot.
It was Fletcher's first Premier League goal since that derby-day mauling by Manchester City 13 months ago -- most of the intervening period he spent battling against a chronic bowel complaint that threatened his career.

Hernandez was soon tucking home his ninth of the season as QPR showed its brittle side again, completing a disastrous nine-minute spell that underlined why the club is in so much trouble. Clint Hill had a header cleared off the line by Rafael before the end, although by then, Redknapp had gone anyway

 

 

 

 

 

 

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