Man United win 3 crucial points on the back of a great comeback

Match winner: Berba scores his second and seals all the points

   Manchester United played Blackpool today in a game which everyone thought Man United would win without a doubt. But Man Utd. were made worl hard for earning their points against a hard working Blackpool. This game must have been one of the best games of the season.

   Craig Catchart who was an ex united player had a sweet comeback as he scored a goal in the 14th minute from a cross by Charlie Adam and scoring a header. In that instance Patrice Evra should have gone back to the post but couldn't return on time as he was receiving treatment and thus Cathcart escaped his marker Berbatov and scored. It was a dream start for the tangerines. No one would have expected them to take a lead. Manchester United didn't defend well. Charlie Adam was at the heart of all the moves made by Blackpool. He justified why his manager doesn't want him to go for a cheap price. Man Utd tried to raise the tempo of the game but in the 25th minute Blackpool almost doubled their lead. Adam delivered a teasing cross which Vidic had almost put back to his own net. But the ball went to Van Der Sar. Man Utd were woeful in the 1st half. Blackpool scored their second goal in the 44th minute. Charlie Adam again being the provider and DJ Campbell scoring the goal via header. The 1st half was a dream half for the home team but a nightmare for Man Utd.

   Second half also didn't start well for the visitors. Man United almost got a penalty against their name when Rafel seemed to have hastily challenged Luke Varney. But the referee didn't award a penalty much to the delight of Man United supporters.  Javier Hernandez was brought in on place of Rooney in the 67th minute because of the super sub reputation he has got. Bringing him seemed to be a great decision as the momentum shifted towards the away team. Manchester United started dominating the game. Nani passed delightful ball on to Fletcher who then passed a through ball to Berbatov and the no.9 pounced on the opportunity and scored the goal on the 72nd minuted. Chicharito was once again the super sub who completed a comeback for Man Utd. He beat the offside trap as Giggs passed a ball to him and scored the goal in the 74th minute.

   Man United still had a goal up their sleeves and Berba scored in the 88th minuted. It was an enthralling encounter and the visitors got all three points at the end and continued their unbeaten run this season thanks to a brace from Berba and a goal from Chicharito. And now Man Utd have a 5 points lead at the top of the table. GGMU!!!! 

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Blackpool vs Man Utd preview

   Manchester United take on Blackpool at Bloomfield on Jan 25 @ 7:30 P.M. GMT( Nepal time: Jan 26, 1:30 A.M.). Man Utd and Blackpool are facing each other in the top fligt after 40 year.

   The tangerines have surprised everyone as they were regarded the favorites for relegation out of the three promoted team but because of their attacking football. They lie in the 12th position with 28 points. Whereas, Man Utd are on the top of the table with 48 points and are two points ahead of the second place Arsenal with a game in hand.

   One could expect this game to be quite entertaining as Blackpool have played an attacking brand of football all this season and Man Utd are always known for their attacking play.

                                                                       Form


   Blackpool are enduring a poor run of form and have lost four of their five last games whereas Manchester United haven't lost a single game this whole season in the premier league and won Birmingham in the last match comprehensively with a scoreline of 5-0.

                                                                      Preview  

  In the basis of the current form this one seems a no brainer. And the attacking football Blackpool play with will leave a lot of holes in their defense which will make them more prone to the counter attacking game of Man Utd. 

                     Final Scoreline (Prediction):  Blackpool 0 vs 3 Man Utd 

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Five star performance by Man Utd againstam Birmingham FC

-By Aashish

Manchester United are the kings of their castle, this has been proven again by the five star performance of today, against Alex Mcleish's Birghimham who were hoping of gaining some good footballing action before their Carling cup semi-final clash with WestHam United. But they were hammered by an all guns blazing red devils.

Berbatov opened the scoring in the second minute with a header from the corner of Ryan Giggs which was flicked on by John O'shea, playing for suspended Rafael Da Silva. It was all Manchester United's play, when Berbatov once again scored in the 37th minute from left side, with assist coming from Wayne Rooney. It was the veteran Giggs in the score-sheet in the second minute of extra time, the assist coming from Rooney again. His 9th assist of the season. Man Utd 3-0 upfront in the halfway mark.

It was the same story in the second half too. Wayne Rooney missing a clear header 2 yards away from the post after a superb cross by Nani. But it was again the hero of the night Berbatov in the score-sheet, just a couple of minutes later. Move being started by long clearence of Van Der Sar, which Rooney controlled very well, before slipping it in the path of Giggs, who passed the ball to Berbatov and he scored the goal from 5 yards from the post in the 53rd min. It was his 3rd hat-trick of the season, the feat only achieved by former RED DEVIL Rud Van Nisterooy and Alan Shearer. Nani, missed more than couple of chances coming from the left flank. But finally scored a well-deserved goal in 76th, switching onto his left foot and then scoring, which he had been trying doing all day long but had failed to find the target. Man Utd now sit comfortably on the top of the table with a game in hand and 2 points clear of nearest rival Arsenal. With Man Utd playing Blackpool on Tuesday, lets hope we'll be on top clear with 5 points. GGMU!!

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Manchester United vs Birmingham FC preview

Man Utd. vs Birmingham

    Man United take on Birmingham FC at Old Trafford on 22 Jan, 2011 @ 3:00 P.M. GMT( 8:45 P.M. Nepali time).

         Probable starting line up

United (4-4-2): Van der Sar; Defence ( O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs; Berbatov, Rooney.
Birmingham (4-4-1-1): Foster; Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Murphy; Bentley, Ferguson, Gardner, Fahey; Hleb; Jerome.
Referee: Mike Jones

   Man Utd. returned to the top of the premier league table after managing a hard fought draw against Tottenham after Rafael was sent off. It was their eighth away draw of the season. But at Old Trafford Man Utd. have been excellent. They have taken 31 points from a possible 33. They have also netted 29 goals at Old Trafford which is the most by an premier league team at home. On top of that Man Utd are yet to lose a premier league game since April when they lost against Chelsea.

   Whereas, Birmingham have had a dismal away record. They have just earned eight points in ten away game this season and in the process have won one game. Birmingham FC have never beaten Manchester United in the premier league. Man Utd. have won 10 and drawn three.

   The pre-match stats suggests that only one team can be the winner in this game. But never mind, football is a funny game and anything can happen.

   Man United will be without Hagreaves(hamstring) and Valencia(ankle). While Rafael is suspended after seeing double yellow against Tottenham in the last match. Similarly, Park Ji Sung is at Asian cup.

My prediction: There only looks one probable winner in this game that is United. I will go for Man United win.
Final Scoreline(Prediction): Man Utd. 2 vs 0 Birmingham   

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Man Utd. draw blanks against Spurs

Rafael furious at Mike Dean after being sent off

   Manchester United drew yet another away game but retained top spot again.
The game started quietly at the beginning but then just got more entertaining. The first half was dominated more by Tottenham rather than Man United. But Nemanja Vidic really played excellently averting all the threats. Man Utd never quite got going.


   Rafael got booked in the first half them consequently got a second yellow and got sent off. His first yellow was spot on as it wasn't a good one. But his second yellow was a poor decision by the refree. And after that Tottenham had a numerical advantage for more than twenty last minutes but couldn't break the deadlock thanks to good defending. Rooney also played well but Man Utd excelled in defending. All the defender of Man United played well. Rafael Da Silva also played well but was unlucky to be sent off.

   Yet another away game drawn but Man United have retained top spot only on goal difference but have played two games lesser than Man City who are on top.

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