Birmingham 0 - 1 Manchester United

Please Click Here to Visit my Website
United Second Best!


Manchester United won, to go second to Arsenal in the Premiership, after a poor start to the season. However, they didn't have it all their own way, and Birmingham could easily have gone ahead before the interval.


Van der Sar had to get airborne with a diving save to deny Jerome. Then Rio Ferdinand was fortunately on hand, to help out by saving McSheffrey's effort off the line. Afterwards, the busy Van der Sar was injured, and although he struggled on, he was replaced at half time by Tomasz Kuszczak.


About 6 minutes after the interval, Ronaldo pounced to settle the issue, with a fine solo effort. He steered the ball away from Queudrue, and then past goalkeeper Taylor, in one of those individual displays, that set him apart from ordinary mortals! It's a good job that some clubs, at least, value their Portuguese.


Birmingham were not yet beaten, and reserve keeper Kuszczak, had to be at his best to keep out McSheffrey. Towards the end Ronaldo had a chance to put his side further ahead, but was inches wide.


Sir Alex Ferguson suggested that this was their hardest match of the season so far. Steve Bruce thought that if his side had made more of their chances, the result would have been different. True, but the same could be said of almost any team in any game!


West Ham 0 - 1 Arsenal


Arsenal on Top


Arsenal are on top of the world - Well the Premiership anyway! This was not the most exciting match of the day. That was happening elsewhere, with Portsmouth beating Reading by seven goals to four, to set up a Match of the Day Record, for Gary Linaker's programme.


Adebayor almost got the Gunners off to a good start, with an early shot that was just wide. He was again involved, when he held the ball up, before slotting it through to Hleb, whose accurate pass was nodded home by Robin Van Persie, to score the only goal of the match, after 13 minutes.


Van Persie had other chances, and went close in the 54th minute, with Green and the post, just able to keep him out. Then, former Arsenal man Freddie Ljungberg thought he had equalised, but the goal was disallowed when he was deemed to be offside. At the other end Green saved another shot from Adebayor. Drabe and Clichy joined in the attack, and Green had to be on his toes to keep them out.


West Ham retaliated but the excellent Van Persie was able to clear Ashton's header, off the line, and because of him Arsenal just about deserved maximum points.


Tags:
Birmingham Vs Man Utd
soccer and football
West Ham Vs Arsenal