upDate mAncHester uNitEd scheduLe

Tue Jan 20 2009 Derby Country CC (H) 20:00
Sat Jan 24 2009 Tottenham Hotspur FA (H) 17:15
Tue Jan 27 2009 West Bromwich Albion (A) 19:45
Sat Jan 31 2009 Everton (H) 15:00

Mon Feb 02 2009 Everton (H) 20:00
Sun Feb 08 2009 West Ham United (A) 16:00
Tue Feb 17 2009 Fulham (H) 20:00
Sat Feb 21 2009 Blackburn Rovers (H) 17:30
Tue Feb 24 2009 Internazionale UCL (A) 19:45
Sat Feb 28 2009 Portsmouth (H) 15:00

mancHesTer uNited Latest reSuLt ( Jan 17 2009 )

Saturday 17 Jan 2009

Bolton Wanderers (0) 0 vs 1 (0) Manchester United FT
Berbatov 90

Premier League
Kick-off: 15: 00
Att: 26021


Match Report

Dimitar Berbatov's dramatic last-minute header helped Manchester United overtake Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.

Trailing Rafa Benitez's side by two points before kick-off, the champions looked like they had missed an excellent opportunity to hit the summit against a resilient Bolton at the Reebok.

But the Bulgaria striker stooped to head home Carlos Tevez's perfect cross in the final minute to move Sir Alex Ferguson’s team a point clear of their closest rivals.

The victory also saw United equal Chelsea's top-flight record of ten consecutive clean sheets.

After three successive Premier League defeats, Bolton were hoping for a repeat of last season's success at the Reebok when Gary Megson's side triumphed 1-0 - their first home success over their neighbours in nearly 30 years.

But the omens were not good for Wanderers, who have lost seven out of their last eight encounters with the champions and had not scored a goal against anyone since defeating Portsmouth on December 20.

United, without the injured Wayne Rooney after the striker pulled his hamstring in the midweek victory against Wigan, had the opportunity to pile the pressure on Liverpool ahead of their game with Everton on Monday night.

But despite dominating the early exchanges, it was Bolton who nearly broke the deadlock when Fabrice Muamba's 25-yard piledriver forced a finger-tip save from Edwin Van der Sar on 28 minutes.

Kevin Davies then saw his ambitious volley fly wide as Wanderers' confidence visibly grew.

United continued to struggle to create clear-cut chances but Cristiano Ronaldo, the newly-crowned FIFA World Footballer of the Year, finally forced Jussi Jaakelainen into action with a downward header from Darren Fletcher's cross.

The Wanderers goalkeeper then made an even better save from Ronaldo three minutes before half-time when he dived low to his left to turn aside the Portuguese star's free-kick.

Davies went even closer when he headed Jloyd Samuel's cross inches after the break over, before Jaaskelainen again denied Ronaldo when he kept out the winger's thunderous free-kick.

Ferguson threw on the experienced Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as United searched for a goal, but apart from another Ronaldo free-kick well saved by Jaaskelainen, they could find no way through until Berbatov's vital late contribution.

Trotters boss Gary Megson commented: "I don't know if this result was ominous for the rest of the league, but if anyone finishes above United, they will win it.

"They usually come good in the second half of the season but if you look at what Chelsea have done, they will be equally delighted. That is what good teams do.

"It looked as though we would get something but it hasn't happened."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson added: "Being top is not decisive at this stage, but it is always nice because it is the best place to be.

"We have been playing catch-up in terms of fixtures for a while now. We still have another game in hand against Fulham on February 14.

"Only after that will we have a good idea of where we stand between Liverpool, Chelsea and ourselves."

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Jlloyd Samuel, Gary Cahill, Gretar Steinsson, Chris Basham, Andrew O'Brien, Fabrice Muamba, Matthew Taylor, Ricardo Gardner (Sebastien Puygrenier 83), Ariza Makukula (Temitope Obadeyi 64), Kevin Davies,

Subs not used: Daniel Shittu, Ebi Smolarek, James Sinclair, Adam Bogdan, Riga Mustapha

Booked: Ariza Makukula 22

Manchester United: Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Luis de Abreu Anderson (Paul Scholes 69), Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher (Ryan Giggs 69), Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov,

Subs not used: Danny Welbeck, James Chester, Luis Carlos Nani, Ji-Sung Park, Tomasz Kuszczak

Booked: John O'Shea 74

Attendance: 26021

mancHesTer uNited Latest reSuLt ( Jan 14 2009 )

Wednesday 14 Jan 2009

Manchester United (1) 1 vs 0 (0) Wigan Athletic FT
Rooney 1

Premier League
Kick-off: 20: 00
Att: 73917


Match Report

Never mind the performance, feel the points, would be the way Manchester United viewed this slipshod performance against Wigan at Old Trafford.

The only goal came after 54 seconds but, for much of the game, United were a shadow of the team which beat Chelsea so convincingly on Sunday.

Wigan, who have now lost all eight meetings against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in the Premier League and Carling Cup, were unlucky not to take a point from this latest encounter.

But the result was all that counted in the end with victory moving United two points behind leaders Liverpool.

United will end the week on top of the table if they win at Bolton on Saturday, although they will have to play far better at the Reebok.

Wayne Rooney's early goal was his sixth against Wigan in the last four seasons.

The Latics were caught cold when Dimitar Berbatov's raking pass found Cristiano Ronaldo on the right.

The FIFA World Player of the Year beat Maynor Figueroa on the edge of the box before supplying the low cross which Rooney tapped home from close range in the centre of goal.

Six minutes later though Rooney was replaced by Carlos Tevez after signalling to the United bench that he had a hamstring problem which will keep him sidelined for three weeks.

Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland had to race out of his box midway through the first half to head clear from Ronaldo and United should have added to their tally in the 25th minute.

John O'Shea's innocuous header out of defence saw Tevez steal a march on a lethargic Wigan defence when he ran clear just inside the Latics half.

The Argentinian rounded Kirkland but took the ball too far and, when his shot came in, it was easily blocked by Titus Bramble on the left by-line.

Wigan pressed forward, although they failed to capitalise on slack United defending numerous times.

United went close to scoring a second goal in the 38th minute. Nani's cross from the right side of the Wigan penalty area was missed by both Ronaldo and Tevez, and when Paul Scholes fired in an shot from 12 yards, it was blocked by Mario Melchiot.

Wigan forced the pace after the interval and it took a fine save by United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar after 67 minutes to keep out a powerful 20-yard shot from Figueroa but in the end Rooney's early goal proved to be decisive.

Manchester United: Edwin van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Jonny Evans, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Carlos Nani (Luis de Abreu Anderson 59), Paul Scholes (Darren Fletcher 85), Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney (Carlos Tevez 8), Dimitar Berbatov,

Subs not used: Tomasz Kuszczak, Ji-Sung Park, Danny Welbeck, Gary Neville

Wigan Athletic: Chris Kirkland, Titus Bramble, Maynor Figueroa, Mario Melchiot, Paul Scharner, Ryan Taylor (Daniel De Ridder 81), Wilson Roberto Palacios, Lee Cattermole (Olivier Kapo 88), Luis Antonio Valencia, Emile Heskey, Amr Zaki (Henri Camara 75),

Subs not used: Erik Edman, Richard Kingson, Emmerson Boyce, Michael Brown

Booked: Titus Bramble 49, Amr Zaki 54, Paul Scharner 52

Attendance: 73917

mancHesTer uNited Latest reSuLt ( Jan 11 2009 )

Sunday 11 Jan 2009

Manchester United (1) 3 vs 0 (0) Chelsea FT
Vidic 45
Rooney 63
Berbatov 87

Premier League
Kick-off: 16: 00
Att: 75455


Match Report


Manchester United turned up the heat on leaders Liverpool after a 3-0 destruction of fellow title challengers Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Goals from Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov moved United into third place.

But ominously for Liverpool, United will overtake them if they win both games they have in hand on the Merseysiders.

The first 45 minutes of the game indicated that a goalless draw would be on the cards.

But as the opening period moved into injury time, the game suddenly exploded into life.

It was sparked by one of the cleverest moves that will be seen in the Premier League this season.

United won a corner on the right. Rooney trotted over and tapped the ball out of the quadrant before nonchalantly walking away.

Over strolled Ryan Giggs and his walk turned to a canter and then a sprint when he touched the ball infield and crossed to the near post where Cristiano Ronaldo headed in from close range.

The assistant referee's flag went up to indicate the corner had not been taken correctly, but the intelligent move should have been rewarded with a goal.

Giggs then stepped up again to drive the second corner into the centre where Berbatov headed the ball to the back post for the unmarked Vidic to nod the ball home from six yards.

United's second goal came in the 63rd minute and from a superb move.

Patrice Evra turned the ball to Ronaldo as he raced down the left.

The Portuguese star back heeled the ball into Evra's path, who continued his run before crossing into the centre of the Chelsea penalty area.

Berbatov produced the faintest of headed flicks and Rooney audaciously tucked his right-foot shot between Chelsea defender Ashley Cole's legs and into the net from six yards.

With three minutes to go, the Red Devils rubbed salt into Chelsea's gaping defensive wounds.

Ronaldo hammered a free-kick from the left and Berbatov met the ball at the near post with his right foot from four yards to net the third.

Ronaldo, Berbatov and Rooney could easily have added to their side's tally as Chelsea suffered their first away defeat of the season in the Premier League.

Chelsea hardly threatened the United goal with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar's most difficult moment coming when he claimed Ashley Cole's 15th minute shot in his midriff.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: "They had a lot of good possession at times and they're a threat when they get the ball.

"They've got so many clever players, but we defended well at the 18-yard line so I don't think they really had a clear-cut chance.

"As we've said all along, we've got all the main teams at home and we really need to win those games.

"We've got the first one out of the road, but we've got some tough games coming up now."

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "Manchester United were better than us.

"I think it's done some very big damage because we didn't come here to play like this.

"We were thinking about winning the game. Now we need to think about the result, what happened to some players, what happened from set-plays and now we have to think about the future.''

Manchester United: Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra (John O'Shea 66), Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs (Michael Carrick 79), Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher, Ji-Sung Park, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney,

Subs not used: Luis de Abreu Anderson, Carlos Tevez, Danny Welbeck, Tomasz Kuszczak, Paul Scholes

Booked: Ji-Sung Park 68, Wayne Rooney 66, Cristiano Ronaldo 28

Chelsea: Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Jose da Silva Bosingwa (Juliano Belletti 64), Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry, Souza Deco (Nicolas Anelka 45), Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel, Joe Cole (Franco di Santo 85), Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba,

Subs not used: Paulo Ferreira, Salomon Kalou, Branislav Ivanovic, Carlo Cudicini

Booked: Juliano Belletti 87, Jose da Silva Bosingwa 27, Ricardo Carvalho 28, John Terry 81, Frank Lampard 4

Attendance: 75455

mancHesTer uNited Latest reSuLt ( Jan 7 2009 )

Wednesday 07 Jan 2009

Derby Country (1) 1 vs 0 (0) Manchester United FT
Commons 30

Carling Cup
Kick-off: 19: 45
Att: 30194


Match Report

Nigel Clough made his mark on Derby County even before taking up his managerial duties when the Championship strugglers deservedly sent Manchester United crashing to a rare defeat.

A superb Kris Commons strike was the least Derby deserved for a thoroughly terrific and at times inspired display that must have impressed the new manager who watched from the director's box.

United were well below par but this should not detract from what was Derby's best performance of what has been a difficult season.

The World Club champions will still be favourites to go through to the Carling Cup Final in the second leg at Old Trafford but they will have to do a lot better than they did at Pride Park on a cold, misty night.

Derby keeper Roy Carroll was only tested once and that was in the first minute of stoppage time when substitute Michael Carrick headed a free-kick straight at him.

Apart from that, United were restricted to some wayward long range shooting and a couple of Cristiano Ronaldo free-kicks, one of which went only inches wide 12 minutes from the end.

The fact that United had so few openings was down to an outstanding performance at centre-back by Andy Todd, who was recalled after a loan spell at Northampton, and another towering display in midfield from teenager Miles Addison.

Derby slowed United down at every opportunity and denied the Premier League champions the chance to get into any kind of rhythm.

The home side had already gone close through Steve Davies before they went in front on the half hour when Mile Sterjovski played the ball inside to Commons who took a touch before unleashing a 25-yard left foot shot that arrowed into the bottom left corner.

The expected introduction of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney early in the second half failed to produce a transformation in United who continued to struggle.

Although Ronaldo went agonisingly close with that free-kick it was Derby who almost scored a second ten minutes from the end when Commons had a shot parried by Tomasz Kuszczak and Rob Hulse put the rebound over the bar with the goalkeeper stranded.

Derby Country: Roy Carroll, Mo Camara, Paul Connolly, Lewin Nyatanga, Andy Todd (Robbie Savage 87), Paul Green, Kris Commons, Miles Addison, Mile Sterjovski (Gary Teale 58), Steve Davies (Nacer Barazite 81), Rob Hulse,

Subs not used: Darren Powell, Sebastian Hines, Liam Dickinson, Stephen Bywater

Booked: Paul Connolly 90, Gary Teale 82

Manchester United: Tomasz Kuszczak, John O'Shea, Rafael Da Silva, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Luis de Abreu Anderson (Michael Carrick 74), Paul Scholes (Cristiano Ronaldo 63), Darron Gibson, Luis Carlos Nani, Carlos Tevez, Danny Welbeck (Wayne Rooney 63),

Subs not used: Rodrigo Possebon, Ben Amos, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs

Booked: Rafael Da Silva 47

Attendance: 30194

mancHesTer uNited Latest reSuLt ( Jan 4 2009 )

Sunday 04 Jan 2009

Southampton (0) 0 vs 3 (1) Manchester United FT
Welbeck 20
Paterson (s/o) 37
Nani (pen) 48
Gibson 81

FA Cup
Kick-off: 16: 00
Att: 31901


Match Report

Manchester United eased past Championship strugglers Southampton 3-0 at St Mary's in a one-sided FA Cup third round tie.

Youngsters Danny Wellbeck and Darron Gibson both scored their first FA Cup goals either side of a Nani penalty to lead United to a fourth round clash with Tottenham.

Sir Alex Ferguson could even afford to leave Cristiano Ronaldo back in Manchester and Wayne Rooney on the substitutes' bench as his side kept up their assault on a unique Premier League, Champions League, Carling Cup and FA Cup quadruple United could have taken the lead inside the opening 15 minutes when home goalkeeper Kelvin Davis produced a fine save to turn away Ryan Giggs' powerful shot, after the veteran Welshman had played a neat one-two with Dimitar Berbatov.

Davis did even better to fingertip Anderson's 20th minute piledriver over the woodwork and deny the Brazilian his first-ever goal for United.

There was nothing Davis could do to stop Wellbeck giving the Premier League champions the lead from the resulting corner.

Wellbeck was quickest to react when John O'Shea's header from Giggs' centre rebounded off the crossbar and stooped to nod home from four yards.

Southampton's hopes of an upset were dashed eight minutes before half-time when Matt Paterson was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Nemanja Vidic.

Referee Mike Riley was at the centre of more controversy three minutes after the interval, when he awarded United a penalty for David McGoldrick's handball from Nani's free kick.

Television replays suggested the ball had struck McGoldrick's shoulder, but Nani ignored Southampton's appeals to send Davis the wrong way and pick out the bottom left corner.

Ferguson's side created countless chances to extend their lead, before substitute Gibson had applied a close range finish to Rooney's 81st minute cross to make it 3-0.

Southampton: Kelvin Davis, Chris Perry, Oliver Lancashire, Oscar Gobern (Kayne McLaggon 56), Lloyd James, Andrew Surman, Rudolf Skacel, Simon Gillett (Morgan Schneiderlin 56), Ryan Smith (Lee Holmes 69), Matthew Paterson, David McGoldrick,

Subs not used: Tommy Forecast, Jason Euell, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Lee Molyneux

Booked: Lloyd James 72, Rudolf Skacel 38

Sent off: Matthew Paterson 37

Manchester United: Edwin van der Sar, Jonny Evans, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs (Rodrigo Possebon 56), Luis Carlos Nani, Luis de Abreu Anderson, Michael Carrick (Darron Gibson 56), Danny Welbeck (Wayne Rooney 63), Dimitar Berbatov,

Subs not used: Ji-Sung Park, Rafael Da Silva, Tomasz Kuszczak, Darren Fletcher

Booked: Jonny Evans 34, John O'Shea 42

Attendance: 31901