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