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Saturday, February 2, 2008
Rio unhappy with Spurs goal
Rio Ferdinand was happy for United to come away from White Hart Lane with a point – but insists Spurs' goal should not have stood.
Dimitar Berbatov slotted home Tottenham's opener after 20 minutes, but only after Jermaine Jenas appeared to handle the ball in the build-up.
Ferdinand told MUTV: "I think they were a bit fortunate with their goal.
"I was behind it and I could see Jenas lying on the floor handling it. That's why I remonstrated with the linesman – how he didn't see it, I'll never know."
United were below-par for most of the game but Carlos Tevez rescued a point with an equaliser from a corner deep into stoppage time.
Ferdinand continued: "I remember going up for the corner and the referee said to me '30 seconds left', so I knew it was last-chance saloon.
"Luckily the ball in was good from Nani and Carlos was there to slot it home.
"We knew we had to come here and work hard. You need spirit if you want to win things and we showed that." Read more...
Dimitar Berbatov slotted home Tottenham's opener after 20 minutes, but only after Jermaine Jenas appeared to handle the ball in the build-up.
Ferdinand told MUTV: "I think they were a bit fortunate with their goal.
"I was behind it and I could see Jenas lying on the floor handling it. That's why I remonstrated with the linesman – how he didn't see it, I'll never know."
United were below-par for most of the game but Carlos Tevez rescued a point with an equaliser from a corner deep into stoppage time.
Ferdinand continued: "I remember going up for the corner and the referee said to me '30 seconds left', so I knew it was last-chance saloon.
"Luckily the ball in was good from Nani and Carlos was there to slot it home.
"We knew we had to come here and work hard. You need spirit if you want to win things and we showed that." Read more...
Boss: We just deserved a point
Sir Alex Ferguson felt United just about deserved to take a point from Saturday's match at Tottenham, having laid siege to the Londoners' goal in the final third of the match.
Although Arsenal regained top spot in the Premier League, two points ahead of the Reds, Sir Alex still saw the 1-1 result at White Hart Lane in a positive light.
"It could be massive," he told MUTV. "We don't stop trying. When we're 1-0 down we'll throw everything at a game, we've always done that. All things being equal, a point's a good point for us, bearing in mind we were 1-0 down at half-time.
"If we'd have got the goal earlier, we'd have won the match. I think in the last 25 minutes we've absolutely battered them. We've deserved a point, but just.
"In the first half I think Tottenham were the better side. They worked their socks off. Under Juande Ramos they're on the upswing, there's no question about that. It was a real difficult game for us. Maybe we've gained a point."
Carlos Tevez's last-gasp leveller secured a point for the Reds, on an afternoon when seven members of the side were cautioned during the match.
Tevez, Edwin van der Sar, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were all booked, and Sir Alex felt the game suffered as referee Mark Clattenburg struggled to maintain control.
"There's something wrong when Manchester United are getting seven bookings," he said. "For me, the referee should have acted when Cristiano Ronaldo was hacked down in the first half (by Jermaine Jenas). For me it was a red card, he just kicked him from the back.
"He spent 30 seconds talking to Jenas, the referee, and up to half-time it looked as though the whole game was going to go to pieces as a football spectacle. He settled down in the second half but nevertheless for us to be getting seven bookings there's something wrong."
Despite slipping two points behind the Gunners, Sir Alex is keeping a cool head as an absorbing title race wears on.
"Ok, Arsenal are two points ahead of us so there are those two points to claw back sometime, but you've also got to look at the fact that there are some difficult games coming up. It's a hard league, teams will drop points," he said. Read more...
Although Arsenal regained top spot in the Premier League, two points ahead of the Reds, Sir Alex still saw the 1-1 result at White Hart Lane in a positive light.
"It could be massive," he told MUTV. "We don't stop trying. When we're 1-0 down we'll throw everything at a game, we've always done that. All things being equal, a point's a good point for us, bearing in mind we were 1-0 down at half-time.
"If we'd have got the goal earlier, we'd have won the match. I think in the last 25 minutes we've absolutely battered them. We've deserved a point, but just.
"In the first half I think Tottenham were the better side. They worked their socks off. Under Juande Ramos they're on the upswing, there's no question about that. It was a real difficult game for us. Maybe we've gained a point."
Carlos Tevez's last-gasp leveller secured a point for the Reds, on an afternoon when seven members of the side were cautioned during the match.
Tevez, Edwin van der Sar, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were all booked, and Sir Alex felt the game suffered as referee Mark Clattenburg struggled to maintain control.
"There's something wrong when Manchester United are getting seven bookings," he said. "For me, the referee should have acted when Cristiano Ronaldo was hacked down in the first half (by Jermaine Jenas). For me it was a red card, he just kicked him from the back.
"He spent 30 seconds talking to Jenas, the referee, and up to half-time it looked as though the whole game was going to go to pieces as a football spectacle. He settled down in the second half but nevertheless for us to be getting seven bookings there's something wrong."
Despite slipping two points behind the Gunners, Sir Alex is keeping a cool head as an absorbing title race wears on.
"Ok, Arsenal are two points ahead of us so there are those two points to claw back sometime, but you've also got to look at the fact that there are some difficult games coming up. It's a hard league, teams will drop points," he said. Read more...
Rooney suspended for derby
Wayne Rooney will sit out the Manchester derby next Sunday after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season at Tottenham.
The United striker was cautioned in the second half of Saturday's 1-1 draw for an ill-advised dive in the box under a challenge from Michael Dawson.
He was one of 10 players who went into referee Mark Clattenburg's notebook in a lively game, in which Carlos Tevez rescued a point for the Reds with a last-gasp equaliser.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had no qualms about Rooney's booking but claimed Clattenburg should have dismissed Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone for a similar incident.
"If the referee deems Rooney has dived, then he's right to book him," Ferguson told MUTV.
"But a few minutes later Huddlestone dived. He had already been booked but the referee did nothing about it. So you've got to say, is that fair?"
Rooney will be joined in the stands next Sunday by mercurial City midfielder Elano, who also received his fifth booking of the campaign for diving in the Blues' 3-1 home defeat by Arsenal. Read more...
The United striker was cautioned in the second half of Saturday's 1-1 draw for an ill-advised dive in the box under a challenge from Michael Dawson.
He was one of 10 players who went into referee Mark Clattenburg's notebook in a lively game, in which Carlos Tevez rescued a point for the Reds with a last-gasp equaliser.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had no qualms about Rooney's booking but claimed Clattenburg should have dismissed Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone for a similar incident.
"If the referee deems Rooney has dived, then he's right to book him," Ferguson told MUTV.
"But a few minutes later Huddlestone dived. He had already been booked but the referee did nothing about it. So you've got to say, is that fair?"
Rooney will be joined in the stands next Sunday by mercurial City midfielder Elano, who also received his fifth booking of the campaign for diving in the Blues' 3-1 home defeat by Arsenal. Read more...
Tottenham Hotspur Vs. Manchester United Result Report
Carlos Tevez struck a priceless equaliser in the final minute of injury time as United came from behind to notch a 1-1 draw at Tottenham on Saturday afternoon.
The Argentinian striker volleyed home Nani's near post corner in the 93rd minute, cancelling out Dimitar Berbatov's first-half opener for the Londoners.
The Bulgarian striker converted from close range after 20 minutes, pouncing after Edwin van der Sar could only parry Aaron Lennon’s cross into his path.
United’s goalkeeper vehemently contested the goal’s award, maintaining that Jermaine Jenas had handled the ball in the build-up, although his protests only earned one of nine bookings dished out by referee Mark Clattenburg.
The draw – United’s fourth league stalemate of the season – always looked to be the best the Reds could hope for after a sluggish start. Tottenham, for their part, were vibrant from the very first whistle.
Nemanja Vidic had to be alert and athletic to prevent a long pass from Tom Huddlestone reaching Berbatov inside the first five minutes and, although Wes Brown did miss with a speculative shot for United, the hosts made all the early running.
Owen Hargreaves did superbly to turn away a dangerous cross from Berbatov after 15 minutes, but the England international was unable to prevent Spurs taking the lead five minutes later.
Jenas fell to the ground under Hargreaves’ attention after a long chase into the area. As he toppled - arms aloft, appealing for a penalty – Jenas brushed the ball with his hand.
The ball ran for Lennon, whose cross was palmed into Berbatov’s path by van der Sar, and the Bulgarian simply slotted into the unguarded goal to put the hosts ahead.
United’s protests were long and loud, and undoubtedly spawned by frustration at such a sloppy concession. Even in attack, the Reds looked uncharacteristically out of sorts.
Cristiano Ronaldo had the visitors’ first opening of any sort after 34 minutes, but he could only guide his unmarked header well wide of the post from 15 yards.
Berbatov then volleyed another Lennon cross over the bar from inside the area, before United were almost handed a scarcely-deserved route back into the match.
Lennon was again involved, his needless shove sending Evra sprawling inside the Spurs area, but referee Clattenburg declined to recognise what looked like a strong shout for a penalty.
United were showing signs of promise in the half’s closing stages, and Sir Alex Ferguson opted to replace Hargreaves with ex-Spurs playmaker Michael Carrick at half-time as he sought to build on that improvement.
Although the Reds continued to enjoy more possession, the United manager must not have been satisfied by his side’s opening to the second period, as he replaced Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes with Nani and Anderson.
The next clear chance fell to Spurs, however, as Berbatov took advantage of a slip from Vidic to feed Robbie Keane, but the Irish striker could only sidefoot tamely at van der Sar when he really should have scored.
United almost drew level with 15 minutes remaining as Anderson stung the palms of Cerny with a 25-yard drive, while a last-ditch challenge from Chimbonda prevented Tevez from slotting in Rooney's centre.
Things went from bad to worse for United in the dying stages, however, when Rooney was booked for diving under a challenge from Dawson - a fifth caution of the season and a seat on the sidelines in next weekend's Manchester derby.
Just when that looked set to cap a frustrating afternoon for United, Tevez popped up to volley in Nani's corner at the near post with virtually the final kick of the match.
The result leaves United two points behind league leaders Arsenal, but the evasion of a fourth league defeat of the season will be a massive boost for the Reds ahead of next weekend's Manchester derby.
Team Line-ups
Tottenham Hotspur: Cerny; Hutton, Woodgate, Dawson, Chimbonda; Lennon (Boateng, 78), Huddlestone, Jenas, Malbranque; Berbatov, Keane (O'Hara, 90).
Subs
not used: Robinson, Taarabt, Lee.
Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Ronaldo, Hargreaves (Carrick, 46), Scholes (Anderson, 60), Giggs (Nani, 60); Rooney, Tevez.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, O'Shea. Read more...
The Argentinian striker volleyed home Nani's near post corner in the 93rd minute, cancelling out Dimitar Berbatov's first-half opener for the Londoners.
The Bulgarian striker converted from close range after 20 minutes, pouncing after Edwin van der Sar could only parry Aaron Lennon’s cross into his path.
United’s goalkeeper vehemently contested the goal’s award, maintaining that Jermaine Jenas had handled the ball in the build-up, although his protests only earned one of nine bookings dished out by referee Mark Clattenburg.
The draw – United’s fourth league stalemate of the season – always looked to be the best the Reds could hope for after a sluggish start. Tottenham, for their part, were vibrant from the very first whistle.
Nemanja Vidic had to be alert and athletic to prevent a long pass from Tom Huddlestone reaching Berbatov inside the first five minutes and, although Wes Brown did miss with a speculative shot for United, the hosts made all the early running.
Owen Hargreaves did superbly to turn away a dangerous cross from Berbatov after 15 minutes, but the England international was unable to prevent Spurs taking the lead five minutes later.
Jenas fell to the ground under Hargreaves’ attention after a long chase into the area. As he toppled - arms aloft, appealing for a penalty – Jenas brushed the ball with his hand.
The ball ran for Lennon, whose cross was palmed into Berbatov’s path by van der Sar, and the Bulgarian simply slotted into the unguarded goal to put the hosts ahead.
United’s protests were long and loud, and undoubtedly spawned by frustration at such a sloppy concession. Even in attack, the Reds looked uncharacteristically out of sorts.
Cristiano Ronaldo had the visitors’ first opening of any sort after 34 minutes, but he could only guide his unmarked header well wide of the post from 15 yards.
Berbatov then volleyed another Lennon cross over the bar from inside the area, before United were almost handed a scarcely-deserved route back into the match.
Lennon was again involved, his needless shove sending Evra sprawling inside the Spurs area, but referee Clattenburg declined to recognise what looked like a strong shout for a penalty.
United were showing signs of promise in the half’s closing stages, and Sir Alex Ferguson opted to replace Hargreaves with ex-Spurs playmaker Michael Carrick at half-time as he sought to build on that improvement.
Although the Reds continued to enjoy more possession, the United manager must not have been satisfied by his side’s opening to the second period, as he replaced Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes with Nani and Anderson.
The next clear chance fell to Spurs, however, as Berbatov took advantage of a slip from Vidic to feed Robbie Keane, but the Irish striker could only sidefoot tamely at van der Sar when he really should have scored.
United almost drew level with 15 minutes remaining as Anderson stung the palms of Cerny with a 25-yard drive, while a last-ditch challenge from Chimbonda prevented Tevez from slotting in Rooney's centre.
Things went from bad to worse for United in the dying stages, however, when Rooney was booked for diving under a challenge from Dawson - a fifth caution of the season and a seat on the sidelines in next weekend's Manchester derby.
Just when that looked set to cap a frustrating afternoon for United, Tevez popped up to volley in Nani's corner at the near post with virtually the final kick of the match.
The result leaves United two points behind league leaders Arsenal, but the evasion of a fourth league defeat of the season will be a massive boost for the Reds ahead of next weekend's Manchester derby.
Team Line-ups
Tottenham Hotspur: Cerny; Hutton, Woodgate, Dawson, Chimbonda; Lennon (Boateng, 78), Huddlestone, Jenas, Malbranque; Berbatov, Keane (O'Hara, 90).
Subs
not used: Robinson, Taarabt, Lee.
Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Ronaldo, Hargreaves (Carrick, 46), Scholes (Anderson, 60), Giggs (Nani, 60); Rooney, Tevez.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, O'Shea. Read more...
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