With thanks to Telegraph ,Times & Irish Times_
Man United v Swindon
23/10/96 19.45
Man United (1) 2 Swindon (0) 1 FT
UNITED'S YOUNG GUNS TOO STRONG FOR SWINDON
Keen as ever....Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane comes out
better in this clash with Swindon Town's Kevin Horlock during last
night's English League Cup third round game at Old Trafford.
Irish Times By Ian Ross
The League Cup may be a poor fourth on Manchester United's list of
priorities but, nonetheless, they find themselves in the tournament's
last 16 this morning.
A team stripped bare of its most attractive components was ultimately
too strong, too knowledgeable, for first division Swindon Town. It was
always a struggle and it was often dour, but after the weekend debacle
on the banks of the river Tyne it will at least have lifted the
spirits of those in need of reassurance.
For once Old Trafford was awash with fresh-faced local youngsters, the
beneficiaries of the lethargy which invariably accompanies the early
rounds of this particular competition. At last, they had been granted
admission to the Theatre of Dreams. Of the team which was humbled at
Newcastle on Sunday just three remained. The likes of Cantona,
Schmeichel, Beckham and Pallister had not been dropped but were being
rested. "We are at the tail-end of one heck of a spell. This is an
occasion to use my squad and bring in a few fresh legs", said United
manager Alex Ferguson in a studied pre-emptive strike.
Despite the absentees, United's football was always thoughtful even if
Roy Keane's exuberance upon his return from injury did often threaten
to manifest itself in an ugly tackle or two.
Still, Swindon could hardly be described as a soft touch either
technically or physically. In so much as they are robust and lacking
in subtlety they accurately reflect the philosophy of their manager,
Steve McMahon.
Swindon were coping well until the 19th minute when United found
sufficient enthusiasm to throw together a passing sequence which would
have undone a defence far more accomplished than theirs. Ben Thornley
and Paul Scholes moved the ball smartly forwards to Karel Poborsky who
drove his shot unerringly beneath the diving Talia.
The game then became becalmed to such an extent that the massive
audience fell silent almost as if to question the wisdom of their
attendance. Hard as they tried, Swindon could not increase the tempo
of their game sufficiently to perturb United's makeshift defence. Mark
Walters's raking runs down either flank held much promise but too
often his final pass was delivered in haste.
Even so, Swindon were level seven minutes into what was a slightly
more attritional second half. A Walters corner prompted a bout of
penalty-area head-tennis before Peter Thorne turned impressively to
hook a shot just beneath the cross-bar.
It was perhaps more than Swindon deserved but the goal did at least
return a competitive edge to an evening of curiously little passion.
United's football began to unravel at the seams as the tie wore on but
they moved back in front for a second time with 17 minutes left when
Scholes drilled in a low shot from an unsympathetic angle.
MANCHESTER UTD: Van Der Gouw, G. Neville, May, P. Neville, McClair,
Poborsky, Keane, Scholes, Thornley, Casper, Appleton (Davies 53). Subs
Not Used: Pilkington, O'Kane. Goals: Poborsky 19, Scholes 72.
SWINDON: Talia, Robinson, Elkins, Leitch, Seagraves, Culverhouse,
Walters, Darras, Thorne (Cowe 67), Allison, Horlock. Subs Not Used:
Watson, O'Sullivan. Booked: Elkins, Leitch. Goal: Thorne 52.
Att: 49,305.
Referee: N S Barry (Scunthorpe).
Electronic Telegraph
Thursday 24 October 1996
Scholes in one good turn for Ferguson - By Ian Whittell
Manchester Utd (1) 2 Swindon Town (0) 1
A FINE Paul Scholes effort vindicated Alex Ferguson's decision to rest
eight of his first team soundly beaten at Newcastle on Sunday but a highly
competent Swindon ensured it was an uncomfortable evening for United. Karel
Poborsky's goal, his second for the club, after 20 minutes calmed the
United nerves and helped eradicate memories of the débâcle against York 12
months ago.
But it was the first-half performance of Roy Keane that would have given
his manager greater cause for long-term optimism.
The Irish midfielder has been limited to three games this season by knee
and thigh injuries and, while United may not be the "one-man team" they
were so commonly accused of being in the Bryan Robson era, Keane is still a
key figure.
Here he was sprinting the length of the pitch in attack, then speeding back
to his own area to rob Peter Thorne in a dangerous position.
Fortunately, there was also the goal. Poborsky started the move with a wide
ball to Ben Thornley on the left, who promptly fed Scholes inside. He
waited to draw two defenders out of position, threading the perfect pass to
his Czech team-mate, who strode into the area before pushing the ball
comfortably past the keeper.
A late first-half effort from Scholes was spectacularly saved at
point-blank range by Frank Talia and seven minutes after the interval that
miss looked costly after Thorne claimed a deserved equaliser.
United's defence failed to clear a Mark Walters corner and Mark Seagraves
and Wayne Allison headed goalwards for Thorne to hook the ball past van der
Gouw.
An accidental collision with David May forced Thorne out of the fray soon
afterwards. Scholes then collected a Keane pass and scored with a
delightful shot after a tight turn.
The Times
Scholes saves United blushes
- BY PETER BALL
Manchester United ...2 Swindon Town ...1
FOUR days on, Manchester United could not wipe out the memory of Sunday's
embarrassment, but they did enough last night to recover at least a modicum
of self-respect. Even with eight changes from the side beaten at Newcastle
United, they were too strong for Swindon Town, goals from Poborsky and
Scholes taking them through the third round of the Coca-Cola Cup.
Alex Ferguson may have protested his undying commitment to the Coca-Cola
Cup, but a half-strength team looked less than convinced. Even so, the
return of Roy Keane for only his fourth game of the season ensured that
there was enough passion to keep the crowd alive.
Keane revelled on his comeback after an extended lay-off, rampaging across
the turf in familiar style. When his young partner, Michael Appleton, put
his side in trouble with an ill-judged pass, Keane ensured that his debut
was not an embarrassing one by racing back to rob Thorne as he shaped to
shoot; when United lacked purpose in their build-up, it was Keane who came
driving forward to give them urgency.
Phil Neville had a quieter return, but with Poborsky finding plenty of
space against the Nationwide League first division side's defence, and
Scholes and Thornley relishing their chance on centre stage, United still
found some moments of class.
The best produced the first goal after 19 minutes. United flowed downfield
until the ball reached Thornley. He turned it into Scholes, who drew two
defenders before releasing Poborsky into the open space through the middle
to leave Talia helpless for his second goal for the club.
With that, the game died again although another move involving the same
three players might have produced a second goal. Again Thornley began
things, and this time Poborsky set up Scholes but as he slid in to meet the
low cross, Talia saved at full stretch.
Swindon, though, were encouraged by United's failure to apply any
consistent pressure and, for the last 15 minutes of the first half, they
put United on the back foot. They might have equalised before the interval
as Thorne slid in to meet Walters's cross, but Van der Gouw denied them.
It did not take them long after half-time, however, to silence the home crowd.
Thorne, who had a large percentage of his family in the ground as United
season-ticket holders, was the man who scored, hooking the ball in after
Allison and Seagraves had won headers from Walters's corner. With Keane
around, such indignity was not to be borne for long. Soon, Thorne had
departed injured, and the Irishman drove his side forward to send in
Scholes for the winner.
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