Unconvincing United reach Premiership summit

17Oct09

Manchester United resumed its position as the leading Premiership team this afternoon with an ‘unconvincing’ (BBC’s words, not mine) victory over Bolton at Old Trafford this afternoon.

After an early Knight own goal and Valencia’s first competitive goal for the champions, United were in control of a regulation Saturday afternoon home win against a battling mid-table side.

A 75th minute goal from Bolton ensured a nervy end to the match which should have been over had it not been for the profligate Owen – maybe he polished his Umbro’s a little too much as he put two good chances wide.

I say regulation, because two weeks ago it was not versus Sunderland. United should have won that game but the lingering trend is that United are yet to pick up the three points in the most convincing fashion since the season began – yet it sits atop of the Premiership pile.

Opening against Birmingham, a 1-0 victory was claimed with little trouble, but the ability to kill off teams has been lacking since.

Wigan were then swept aside at the DW stadium, but that’s Wigan away…

A horrible loss to Burnley followed – maybe one of those “cup final” moments for Burnley, a poorly motivated United side and the decision to put Carrick on penalty duty led to United’s downfall that evening.

Arsenal came to Old Trafford in rich early season form, and again, United struggled to get past The Gunners. Fair enough, Arsenal are a very good side, but not always the most battling at big away grounds – a penalty and an own goal was enough for victory.

However, The Red Devil’s best performance of the season did come against North London opposition, with a Giggs-inspired 3-1  win. It was also finally time for the Anderson family to get out the scissors and cut out the newspaper reports as their boy scored his first competitive goal for the club….only his 78th appearance for the team.

The Manchester Derby came and went without too much controversy…

Well, perhaps not. United did have this game won about twice, especially once it got to 3-2 but Rio Ferdinand’s brain had other ideas and, although victory was just, a heart-pounding winner from Owen snaffled all three points at the death.

A slightly more convincing victory came at the Britannia Stadium – somewhere pundits like to call an “tough ground” to go to. It indeed is, but United came through once the ubiquitous Giggs arrived on the scene (technically never off the scene given my desire to use ‘ubiquitous’ in this context…)

This brings us back to the Sunderland match a fortnight ago – what turned out to be a salvaged draw in the 94th minute – as Anton Ferdinand had the Old Trafford crowd this time relieved to see a Ferdinand blunder.

Overall, it’s apparently results that count, winning points and chasing trophies – so Manchester United fans have every reason to be happy.

I presume every enlightened football fan wants their team to sweep the opposition aside every week with wave after wave of mesmorising attacking play. However, it’s those last minute goals one never gets used to , but hey, they’ve already started to have an impact this season only 9 games in.

Anyway, isn’t a last minute winner all the more sweeter?? Every classic football match needs one – write that down.

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