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Tuesday 16 December 1997
Issue 936


Giggs supplies gloss finish for stylish United
By Henry Winter at Old Trafford


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          Man Utd (0) 1 Aston Villa (0) 0
          
          A YEAR ago Manchester United lay sixth in the table,
          only dispelling the doubts with an ensuing charge to settle the
          championship's destiny. Now, they are four points clear, with a
          European Cup quarter-final place secured, and seemingly heading
          inexorably for another title.
          
          A wonderful finish from Ryan Giggs ensured last night's victory
          over an obdurate Aston Villa, who must be wondering when Stan
          Collymore is going to prove his worth. Teddy Sheringham's third
          successive penalty miss did little to remove the gloss from
          United's victory.
          
          Villa's steeped defence, underpinning their 5-3-2 formation,
          proved an obdurate unit in the first half, continually
          resisting the varying attacks flooding towards them.
          
          United's creative catalyst was invariably David Beckham, the
          opening period's best player whose range of passing and
          willingness for constant involvement were a delight to hold.
          
          Strangely, Old Trafford was slow to warm to the show being put
          on by Beckham. Perhaps it was the plummeting temperatures.
          Maybe it was the fans' high expectancy levels after so many
          rampant home matches.
          
          More likely it was the nervousness engendered by Villa's
          confident start, in which Simon Grayson shot wide and Peter
          Schmeichel brilliantly block Ian Taylor's effort, following
          excellent approach work from Alan Wright and Collymore.
          
          Gradually, though, the home support began to respond to the
          football on view, began to appreciate the distribution of
          Beckham and the movement of Giggs. The pair's form bordered on
          the exhilarating. United's 4-3-2-1 style, a strategy that
          accommodates the absence of the suspended Paul Scholes, clearly
          suits Beckham and Giggs, giving them licence to drift wide or
          punch holes through the middle.
          
          Beckham kept dropping deep and lifting balls forward to
          Sheringham or Gary Neville out wide. The pressure was building.
          A breakthrough appeared imminent but United were thwarted by
          the defensive excellence of Steve Staunton, drawing on all his
          years of experience to marshall Villa's back five.
          
          After nine minutes Beckham released Gary Neville, whose teased
          pass invited Sheringham to advance in from the right. Michael
          Oakes parried Sheringham's cross-shot, the ball falling to
          Giggs, whose close-range shot was cleared off the line by Ugo
          Ehiogu.
          
          Villa, a team increasingly in tune with the rhythms of Europe,
          showed the expertise that has carried them to the
          quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup. Packing defence and breaking
          quickly, mixing the resilient with the cobra-like, Brian
          Little's hard-working side kept United's defence on their toes.
          Ronny Johnsen, preferred to Henning Berg, needed all his
          mobility to track Villa's raiders when the visitors enjoyed
          possession.
          
          Johnsen was mainly shadowing Collymore. Gary Pallister was
          keeping an eye on Milosevic but the tall striker escaped him
          after the half-hour, heading off in a race with Johnsen.
          
          A mistake by the United defender allowed Milosevic into the
          box, where he laid the ball back to Collymore, whose shot was
          charged down by the alert Gary Neville. The other Neville
          brother, Phil, came to United's rescue, clearing instinctively
          after Milosevic had turned Pallister.
          
          Back came United, their energy visible in the puffs of cold air
          surrounding each of Alex Ferguson's players. Giggs went close,
          then hit a post as the crowd, many of them now standing, roared
          their team forward.
          
          United's propensity for scoring in the period immediately
          following the break, a habit probably related to the content
          and delivery of Alex Ferguson's interval talks, was witnessed
          again. Cole, content to play the provider, lifted the ball over
          Villa's defence for Giggs to run through. As that famous left
          foot came down, injecting power and placement into the ball,
          there could only be one outcome, the ball flashing past Oakes.
          Cue euphoria.
          
          Such noisy elation was nearly ended when a sub- sequent caution
          for Cole almost proved doubly dangerous when the United striker
          pushed Ehiogu. Fortunately for Cole, the referee, Paul Durkin,
          proved lenient.
          
          A bizarre passage of play emerged around the hour-mark. In
          attempting to roll the ball out, Schmeichel hit the heels of
          Philip Neville, the ball rebounding to Gareth Southgate. Here
          was a wonderful opportunity to secure an unlikely equaliser but
          Southgate, probably startled by possession, shot across goal.
          
          The force remained with United. Moments after Sheringham's
          deflected strike had clattered off Oakes's bar, Milosevic was
          adjudged to have handled, so allowing Sheringham the chance to
          end his spot-kick woes. Once again, echoing his failures at
          Tottenham Hotspur and Derby County this season, Sheringham
          placed his penalty wide.
          __________________________________________________________

          Man Utd (0) 1 Aston Villa (0) 0
          Giggs 52.

          Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Johnsen, Pallister, Beckham,
          Butt, Cole, Sheringham, Giggs, P. Neville, Solskjaer (McClair
          85). Subs Not Used: May, Van Der Gouw, Berg, Curtis. Booked:
          Cole.

          Aston Villa: Oakes, Charles, Wright, Ehiogu, Staunton,
          Southgate, Taylor, Draper, Grayson (Joachim 70), Milosevic
          (Hendrie 70), Collymore. Subs Not Used: Nelson, Scimeca, Ghent.
          Booked: Milosevic, Grayson.

          Att: 55,151
          Ref: P A Durkin (Portland).
          __________________________________________________________

   Giggs hits the mark as United surge clear
  	  				 
   MANCHESTER, England, Dec 15 (AFP) - Ryan Giggs finally hit the  
target as Manchester United powered four points clear at the top of 
the English Premiership with a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at Old 
Trafford on Monday. 

   Giggs had four good chances to score before he found the back of  
the net with a stinging shot after 52 minutes which set up a richly 
deserved victory for rampant United. 

   United were in irressistible form as they stormed their way to  
their 12th Premiership victory from 18 starts and they head into the 
hectic Christmas period as outright favourites to retain their 
title. 

   Alex Ferguson's side, who have won the Premiership four times in  
the past five seasons, could even afford the luxury of Teddy 
Sheringham missing a penalty 20 minutes from time. 

   Villa, who have not lost to United in their last four meetings,  
had the first chance to open the scoring when Stan Collymore 
released Ian Taylor with a perfectly timed pass. 

   The midfielder had timed his run to perfection but saw his shot  
charged down when United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel sprinted off 
his line and threw himself at Taylor's feet. 

   United's response was immediate as Gary Neville burst down the  
right and caused panic in the Villa defence with a whipping cross 
that Giggs somehow failed to divert into the net. 

   United, who have now scored 36 goals in their last ten games,  
had the ball in the net on 18 minutes when Teddy Sheringham crashed 
home a ferocious volley, only for the linesman to flag him offside. 

   Giggs was a constant threat as United turned up the pressure  
towards the end of the first half. 

   The Welsh winger hit a post, saw a shot saved on the line and  
fired a header over inches over the bar, but somehow Villa survived 
the bombardment. 

   At the other end, Ronnie Johnsen let in Savo Milosevic from a  
poor back pass and the Yugoslavian international found Collymore, 
but his shot was well blocked by Gary Neville. 

   But a United goal was inevitable and seven minutes after the  
interval it arrived when Cole laid off a ball for Giggs who burst 
through the centre of the Villa defence and crashed in a low, 
left-foot drive. 

   United continued to pile on the pressure and Sheringham hit the  
cross with a deflected drive on the hour. 

   Moments later, United were awarded a dubious penalty when  
Milosevic was adjudged to have handled in the area, only for 
Sheringham to side foot his spotkick high and wide. 

   Cole almost doubled United's advantage on 83 minutes when he  
forced a good save from Michael Okeas with a smart shot on the 
turn. 
          __________________________________________________________

   December 16 1997 FOOTBALL
   
   Giggs breaks down Villa's resolve
   
   BY OLIVER HOLT, FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT
   
   Manchester United ...1 Aston Villa ...0
   
   UNBOWED by their defeat by Juventus last week, Manchester United got
   straight back into the championship groove against Aston Villa at Old
   Trafford last night. If United had any kind of European hangover, they
   shook it off with a narrow win that should have been more emphatic
   than a single second-half goal from Ryan Giggs, but nevertheless moved
   them four points clear at the top of the FA Carling Premiership.
   
   Losers in Turin after Villa had vanquished Steaua Bucharest in
   Birmingham to move into the last eight of the Uefa Cup, United put the
   elation of Brian Little's team into sober perspective with a solid
   performance that never quite hit the heights but was more than good
   enough. It was significant, too, perhaps, that after three successive
   goalless draws against this obdurate Villa side, United were able to
   break the deadlock in the end last night.
   
   However, even though United were only sixth at this stage last season
   and look set fair to secure another title, their manager, Alex
   Ferguson, grew briefly apoplectic in the post-match press conference
   over headlines suggesting his team would have secured the championship
   by March, when they embark on the next stage of their European Cup
   adventure.
   
   "It is stupid to talk about leagues at this time of the year,"
   Ferguson said, "absolutely stupid. I'm not answering any more
   questions about it. It is nice to have four points' breathing space
   but the league starts to take shape in March and April. If you drop
   points then, it really means something. We have still got some hard
   games in front of us."
   
   The strike by Giggs, seven minutes after half-time, was technically
   brilliant and good enough to win any game. However, United's
   satisfaction was spoiled slightly by several chances that fell to
   Villa and a third successive penalty miss from Teddy Sheringham. "He
   has put himself in the dole queue with the penalties now," Ferguson
   said, hinting that Paul Scholes would be handed the responsibility
   when he returns from suspension at the weekend.
   
   Villa may only have beaten United once at Old Trafford in the past 43
   years, but they began the brighter, fashioning the clearest chance of
   the first half in the sixth minute. Collymore flicked on a throw from
   Wright that left Taylor with just Schmeichel to beat. Intimidated by
   the obstacle the Dane presented, though, Taylor hit his shot tamely at
   the goalkeeper, who blocked it with his body.
   
   Thereafter, United settled into the invigorating rhythm that has been
   their hallmark in their recent rampage through the ranks of the
   Premiership. Every touch was bursting with confidence and assurance,
   every move constructed with economy and pace, Villa attacks mopped up
   by Gary Neville and Ronnie Johnsen with poise.
   
   United nearly took the lead in the tenth minute when Gary Neville
   played a one-two with Beckham on the right wing and crossed low into
   the area. Sheringham met it at the near post and when Oakes could only
   push his flick out, it seemed Giggs must score. The ball got caught
   under his feet, though, and Ehiogu hacked it away to safety.
   
   Ten minutes before the interval, Villa found themselves trapped in
   their own box again, the ball bouncing around like a pinball in a
   machine. Eventually, a weak header fell to Giggs on the edge of the
   area and his volley deflected off Cole's foot, on to Oakes' right-hand
   post and away to safety.
   
   Soon after the break, however, United took the lead. Sheringham
   flicked a header on to Cole who lifted the ball cleverly over Ehiogu
   into the path of the marauding Giggs. "There are a lot of players
   faster than him," Ferguson said, "but none of them can control the
   blinking ball like him." Giggs let the ball bounce before volleying it
   beyond Oakes.
   
   The chances came quickly now. Wright squeezed a cross-shot just wide,
   Cole's rising drive was clutched by Oakes and Solskjaer headed weakly
   at Oakes after a bouncing cross from Sheringham. Villa spurned a fine
   opportunity in the 63rd minute when Schmeichel's roll-out clipped the
   heels of Phil Neville and fell for Southgate, who screwed his shot
   wide.
   
   Two minutes later, after Cole was lucky to stay on the pitch following
   a booking and a fracas with Ehiogu, a Sheringham shot that was
   deflected on to the bar was the catalyst for another spell of intense
   United pressure. First, Beckham's corner bounced off the body of
   Pallister and onto a post. Another corner was headed on by Sheringham
   and hacked off the line. The third was handled by Milosevic and
   Sheringham, who has missed penalties at Tottenham Hotspur and Derby
   County, got his hat-trick, sidefooting his kick firmly to the left of
   Oakes but wide of the post, too.
   
   MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): P Schmeichel - G Neville, G Pallister, R
   Johnsen, P Neville - D Beckham, N Butt, R Giggs - A Cole, E
   Sheringham, O G Solskjaer (sub: B McClair, 87min).
   
   ASTON VILLA (3-5-2): M Oakes - U Ehiogu, S Staunton, G Southgate - G
   Charles, M Draper, I Taylor, S Grayson (sub: L Hendrie, 71), A Wright
   - S Milosevic (sub: J Joachim, 71), S Collymore.
   
   Referee: P Durkin.

   Copyright 1997 The Times Newspapers Limited. 

          __________________________________________________________
          
                   Man United v Aston Villa 15/12/97 8.00
                                      
Man United              (0) 1 Aston Villa             (0) 0 FT
Giggs 52

   Ryan Giggs scored the only goal at Old Trafford to take Manchester
   United four points clear at the top of the FA Carling Premiership.
   
   But Teddy Sheringham's penalty nightmare continued for the champions
   as he missed his third spot kick in three attempts.
   
   Sheringham's blunder, though, did not prove costly for the champions
   who were worthy winners against Aston Villa.
   
   Victory kept United, quarter-finalists in the Champions' League, well
   on course for success at home and in Europe.
   
   The three previous matches between the sides failed to produce a goal
   and Giggs scored the only one of this encounter after 51 minutes.
   
   UEFA Cup quarter-finalists Villa, who had won just one of their
   previous 33 visits to Old Trafford, rarely looked like adding to that
   total.
   
   United, who had scored 35 goals in their last nine games, deployed
   their three-pronged strike force of Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole and
   Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they went in search of more goals.
   
   But it was Villa who carved out the first chance when Savo Milosevic
   cut out David Beckham's pass and found Simon Grayson, who pulled his
   shot wide.
   
   Stan Collymore then released Ian Taylor, who had made a great diagonal
   run, only for Peter Schmeichel to rush out and block the shot.
   
   United responded and twice went close within the space of a few
   seconds. Gary Neville's great right-wing cross was met by Sheringham
   and his shot was parried by Michael Oakes. The rebound fell to Giggs
   only for Ugo Ehiogu to clear his effort off the line.
   
   United attacked again and on 14 minutes Cole fed Solskjaer and Oakes
   saved the Norwegian's shot with his feet.
   
   The champions were camped in the Villa half and Sheringham volleyed
   home three minutes later, but the assistant referee was already
   flagging for offside.
   
   On the half hour Giggs played a dangerous ball into the box, but
   Gareth Southgate cleared the threat.
   
   Ronny Johnsen then let in Milosevic from a poor back pass and the
   Yugoslavian international found Collymore, but his shot was well
   blocked by Gary Neville.
   
   Milosevic was given two bites of the cherry to cross from the left and
   his second attempt was headed away by Phil Neville.
   
   Normal service was soon restored and Oakes parried Giggs' deflected
   shot.
   
   United turned the screw and Villa were unable to clear the ball from
   their own box and in the 35th minute a Giggs volley was deflected onto
   the post.
   
   Milosevic was presented with a rare chance four minutes from the
   interval, but he sliced wide.
   
   Villa began the second half more positively and Alan Wright fired over
   from 20 yards out.
   
   But their revival was shortlived when Cole flicked the ball into the
   path of the advancing Giggs and he drilled the ball home past Oakes
   for his fourth goal of the season.
   
   It was the first league goal scored in 327 minutes of action between
   the sides.
   
   United continued to press for a second and Cole shot straight at Oakes
   before the Villa goalkeeper somehow managed to scramble away
   Solskjaer's point-blank header.
   
   Southgate missed a golden opportunity to equalise on 61 minutes when
   Schmeichel's throw out hit Phil Neville's heel and fell to him, but
   the England defender screwed his shot well wide.
   
   United were left wondering how they did not score two minutes later
   when, first, Sheringham's effort was deflected onto the bar.
   
   From the resultant corner the ball hit Gary Pallister and was cleared
   off the line, while Sheringham also went close again.
   
   United's pressure was rewarded in the 64th minute when referee Paul
   Durkin awarded them a penalty for handball against Milosevic.
   
   Sheringham, who had been relieved of the spot kick duties after his
   failures against Tottenham and Derby, stepped up to take the penalty
   in the absence of the injured Denis Irwin, but he planted it wide.
   
   Man United: (4-3-3) Schmeichel, G. Neville, Johnsen, Pallister,
   Beckham, Butt, Cole, Sheringham, Giggs, P. Neville, Solskjaer
   (McClair, 85).
   Subs not used: May, Van Der Gouw, Berg, Curtis.
   Booked: Cole.
   
   Aston Villa: (5-3-2) Oakes, Charles, Wright, Ehiogu, Staunton,
   Southgate, Taylor, Draper, Grayson (Joachim, 70), Milosevic (Hendrie,
   70), Collymore.
   Subs not used: Nelson, Scimeca, Ghent.
   Booked: Milosevic, Grayson.
   
   Attendance: 55,151.
   Referee: P A Durkin (Portland).


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