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United fledglings refuse to flinch
By Martin Smith | |
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Barnsley (0) 0 Man Utd (1) 2 EVEN with nine regulars missing for a variety of reasons, a team packed with occasionals and young debutants, and the championship conceded a week ago, Manchester United still showed a resolve too powerful for relegated Barnsley. Yet if the Barnsley players did not recognise many of the names on the United teamsheet, they should have noted Andy Cole, not least because he was on the scoresheet three times in the 7-0 humiliation at Old Trafford earlier in the season. Nevertheless, it was Cole who eluded the defence after only five minutes to underline that United were going to be no pushovers. Dave Watson hesitated, then back-tracked as John Curtis threaded the ball through and that indicated to Cole he had the time and space in which to turn and hammer home. United did not have things all their own way, though. Barnsley's rousing performance in the lashing rain of the second half threatened at times to overrun United, especially when the awkwardness of Jan Aage Fjortoft was introduced to test the strength of Ferguson's latest fledglings. The youngsters did not flinch and if Phillip Mulryne, Michael Clegg and Wes Brown are unlikely to be regulars next season, when Jaap Stam is eligible and the Nevilles, Scholes, Beckhams and Irwins return, then they will have benefited from yesterday's less than gentle introduction. In many ways, losing to United's irregulars summed up Barnsley's first visit to the Premier League: their undoubted determination and enthusiasm not being matched by class and ability. However, their supporters were already looking forward beyond next season before kick-off when they sang: "The Reds are going up". United were on top for the first half an hour, and Nicky Butt might have added to the opener, but his low shot hit the base of a post and Watson's heel deflected the rebound away from the unmarked Cole. However, with the home crowd intent on enjoying their last taste, for now, of the Premiership, Barnsley upped the tempo. They might have equalised when David May's ambitious back pass, under pressure from Georgi Hristov, hit the crossbar, and later when May cleared Adie Moses's first-time shot off the line. The singing in the rain did not even stop 13 minutes from time when Butt's ball through put Teddy Sheringham clear and he scored from a narrowing angle. _________________________________________________________________ Barnsley (0) 0 Man Utd (1) 2 Cole 5, Sheringham 67. Barnsley: Watson, Appleby (Eaden 46), Sheridan, Moses, Redfearn, Bullock, Jones, Hristov (Fjortoft 62), Barnard, Ward, Morgan. Subs Not Used: Marcelle, Liddell, Bosancic. Booked: Sheridan. Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, May, Butt, Cole, Sheringham, Giggs, Berg, Mulryne, Curtis, Clegg (Higginbottom 60), Brown. Subs Not Used: Culkin, Noteman, Twiss, Greening. Booked: May. Att: 18,694 Ref: P A Durkin (Portland). _________________________________________________________________ Bolton relegated, Everton survive on dramatic final day (adds detail, quotes) By Mitch Phillips LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) - Everton drew 1-1 at home with Coventry on Sunday to preserve their English premier league status as Bolton were relegated after a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on a tension-filled final day. Everton, in the top flight since 1954 and out for only four seasons since 1888, survived on goal difference despite Nick Barmby missing an 87th minute penalty and conceding an equaliser to Dion Dublin a minute later. Everton's Gareth Farrelly had scored a superb goal from 20 metres in the eighth minute, his first league goal for the club to calm the nerves of the capacity 40,000 Goodison Park crowd. The win looked secure when Paul Williams was harshly adjudged to have fouled Danny Cadamarteri but Magnus Hedman saved Barmby's penalty. Seconds later Everton's Norwegian goalkeeper Thomas Myhre allowed Dublin's header to slip through his hands to silence the home fans. Everton, champions in 1987 but forced to battle against relegation in four of the last five seasons, held out but their survival depended on Bolton failing to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. After dominating the early stages, Bolton eventually ran out of steam and lost to goals by Gianluca Vialli in the 73rd minute and Jody Morris on full time. They join already relegated Barnsley and Crystal Palace in division one, meaning that all three promoted clubs went down after just one season. Everton manager Howard Kendall, who led the club to glory in his first spell in charge in the 1980s, said: "It's a day I don't want to go through again. This football club will never go through a day like this again as long as I'm manager. "There will be a change of personnel but not a drastic change as I believe I have a strong squad." Everton veteran Dave Watson, the only surviving player from the club's last day escape in 1994, said: "It's unbelievable. After '94 I thought we wouldn't have to go through it again. "When Nick missed that penalty and that one slipped through Thomas's hands I thought here we go again. "But we showed a great attitude and it was a great performance." It was hard luck on Bolton boss Colin Todd, whose side had won their previous two games to put their destiny in their own hands. "It's soul-destroying. We were very unfortunate not to score in the first half -- we had two cleared off the line," said Todd "I couldn't have asked for any more from my players but it's been a horrible day for us." The day's other big issue concerned UEFA Cup qualification and Blackburn clinched their place with a last-gasp 1-0 home win over Newcastle -- Chris Sutton getting the all-important goal two minutes from time. Newcastle had David Batty sent off but it will not keep him out of next week's F.A. Cup final against Arsenal. However, the England midfielder may face extra punishment after appearing to push referee David Elleray after being dismissed. Champions Arsenal ended their league season with a second successive defeat -- 1-0 at Aston Villa thanks to a Dwight Yorke goal. The result leaves Villa seventh and they will qualify for Europe if Chelsea win the European Cup Winners' Cup final against Germany's VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday. Liverpool, who lost to a Paolo Wanchope goal at Derby and Leeds, who drew 1-1 with Wimbledon, have already qualified for the UEFA Cup. Runners-up Manchester United won 2-0 at Barnsley with goals by Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham. West Ham beat Leicester 4-3 but the win was not enough for a European place as the London club finished eighth. Juergen Klinsmann signed off with a brilliant goal at Tottenham, equalising Matt Le Tissier's opener for Southampton in a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane. And bottom club Crystal Palace collected only their second home victory of the season as an injury time goal by Clinton Morrison beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0. © Reuters Limited 1998 |
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