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Leaders widen the gap after crushing Everton
By William Johnson | |
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Man Utd (2) 2 Everton (0) 0 SIX POINTS clear going into the second half of the season, Manchester United look unstoppable in their quest to secure a fifth championship in six years before they concentrate their minds again on the overwhelming priority of bringing the Euoropean Cup back to Old Trafford. By the time Alex Ferguson's supremely confident team - maybe squad is a better way of describing them in view of the manager's constant shuffling of resources - lock horns with the French champions Monaco in March, the title race could be done and dusted, or at the very least be reduced to a minor distraction. Another Stamford Bridge slip-up by Chelsea, the team from the chasing pack Ferguson fears most, followed by a similar deadlock involving Blackburn Rovers at Hillsborough, enabled United to strengthen their grip on the Premiership. "Men against boys" was how Everton's disconsolate manager Howard Kendall summed up what he called a long and humiliating 90 minutes. Kendall, frustrated by an enormous list of unavailabilities, rightly questioned the commitment of his players on an occasion when he expected little reward. "The scoreline flatters us," added Kendall, who suggested that United had been given Boxing Day off to extend their welcome Christmas holiday. "At times it looked too much for some of our players." Indeed the gulf in class was phenomenal, and if fault can be found with United in their irresistible form, it is in their complacency when inferior opposition is there for the killing. The Ferguson of a couple of years ago would have pounced on that shortcoming with a timely public threat of wielding the axe. He made no such complaints last night, celebrating another good day at the office at a time when demands on his squad are at their greatest. Besides, he had set the complacent tone for the afternoon by leaving out three of his best players - Peter Schmeichel, Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham - for the visit of a team who until last weekend had gone more than a year without an away victory. Schmeichel was not left out by choice, the commanding Danish goalkeeper suffering a recurrence of back problems. "He could have played, but I thought it wiser not to risk him," explained Ferguson. He later had the luxury of easing the burden on Gary Pallister's creaking joints - David Beckham and Phil Neville also retired early - so marked was United's dominance. An outrageously one-sided affair was settled from the 35th-minute moment when Andy Cole extended his magnificent scoring sequence of 13 in 11 matches. Cole embarrassed Everton's new goalkeeper Thomas Myhre with an exquisite chip from 25 yards out - a demonstration of skill, which reminded an ecstatic crowd of Eric Cantona's brilliant finish against Sunderland last Christmas. United had gone in front 20 minutes earlier when Henning Berg became the first player to score against Myhre since the Norwegian's transfer from Viking Stavanger. Berg seized the chance to punish his compatriot after another Norwegian Ronny Johnsen headed a Beckham corner back across goal to force a weak attempted clearance from Earl Barrett. The period between the two goals produced rich entertainment, all of it coming from United. Everton, who must have known about Kevin Pilkington's uncertainty on previous rare appearances in the United goal, failed even to test Schmeichel's understudy until Gareth Farrelly let fly from 40 yards early in the second half. By then Everton should have been buried. Beckham, whose overall performance was outstanding, was guilty of shooting twice from difficult positions when simple lay-offs would have provided tap-ins for Cole, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and full-back Gary Neville also fired recklessly from promising situations. Paul Scholes was denied what would have been another collectors' item by the save of the match from Myhre, and Cole had a close-range effort ruled out for offside and other blocked by Craig Short's tackle. __________________________________________________________ Man Utd (2) 2 Everton (0) 0 Berg 14, Cole 35. Man Utd: Pilkington, G. Neville, Johnsen, Pallister (McClair 74), Beckham (Poborsky 66), Butt, Cole, P. Neville (Curtis 83), Scholes, Solskjaer, Berg. Subs Not Used: Sheringham, Giggs. Booked: G. Neville, Cole, Poborsky. Everton: Myhre, Barrett (Allen 65), Short, Hinchcliffe, Tiler, Watson (Jeffers 45), Ball (Thomsen 78), Oster, Farrelly, Barmby, Cadamarteri. Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Thomas. Booked: Farrelly, Allen. Att: 55,167 Ref: U D Rennie (Sheffield). __________________________________________________________ LONDON, Dec 26 (AFP) - Manchester United rested several star players but still powered six points clear at the top of the English Premiership after a comfortable 2-0 win over fallen giants Everton on Friday. Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was sent home after arriving at Old Trafford with a heavy cold before United boss Alex Ferguson decided to leave key forwards Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham on the bench. But the reigning champions provided ominous evidence of their strength in depth by brushing aside second-bottom Everton courtesy of goals from Henning Berg and Andy Cole. United's cause was helped after title challengers Chelsea and Blackburn were held to draws by Wimbledon and Sheffield Wednesday respectively. Everton boss Howard Kendall slammed his players after watching them slump to their 11th Premiership defeat of the season at Old Trafford. "It was an embarrassing 90 minutes, to be honest. It was men against boys. The scoreline flattered us. "No-one expected us to come here and get a result but I think the way the 90 minutes were played was very disappointing to watch for anyone connected with Everton." United manager Alex Ferguson was in more festive mood but said he was disappointed by his players' display in the second half. "The first half was superb at times but the second half was a bit of a non event," he said. Elsewhere, Stan Collymore put his personal problems behind him to help Aston Villa to a crushing 4-1 over struggling Tottenham. Collymore, who was charged by police with assaulting his former girlfriend in a nightclub on Christmas Eve, boosted his meagre goal tally to four in 22 games with two late strikes. The seven million pound signing from Liverpool struck from close range to make it 3-1 before curling in a stunning free-kick to seal the rout in the final minute. Villa midfielder Mark Draper was also in outstanding form, scoring Villa's first two goals. Colin Calderwood earlier equalised for sad Spurs with what proved to be no more than a consolation goal. Liverpool manager Roy Evans breathed a sigh of relief after watching his strikers waste a string of good chances before wrapping up an impressive 3-1 victory over Leeds. Teenage sensation Michael Owen was outstanding, scoring a minute into the second half, but Robbie Fowler missed a hatful of chances before netting twice in four minutes to clinch the points. Evans said: "When you miss as many chances as we did, you are constantly worried about slipping up. I couldn't relax for one moment." Third-placed Chelsea are 11-2 second favourites behind United to win the title, but manager Ruud Gullit said expectations had grown too great at the west London club after watching his side grind out a dull 1-1 draw with Wimbledon. "Some expectations are too much," said Gullit. "You have to be realistic. I look to go step by step but others want us to take four steps ahead." Goalkeeper Alan Fettis, making his debut, helped second-placed Blackburn to a welcome point at Wednesday, but the result will be a disappointment for Roy Hodgson's side who now trail United by six points. The Northern Ireland international made several key saves as Blackburn's three-game winning streak ended and Ron Atkinson's side halted a two-game losing run. Arsenal survived a late fightback to breathe fresh life into their flagging title challenge with a hard-fought victory over Martin O'Neill's Leicester. The Gunners went 2-0 up through former England captain David Platt and an own goal by Steve Walsh, before Neil Lennon seized on a mistake by England goalkeeper David Seaman to reduce the deficit and set up a grandstand finish at Highbury. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted: "It made me absolutely nervous. The last 15 minutes or so were terrible." Newcastle midfielder David Batty faces a three-match ban after he was dismissed for the second time this season in his side's 1-0 defeat at Derby. It was Newcastle's seventh league defeat of the season and the scoreline could have been emabarrasing for Kenny Dalglish's side but for some wasteful finishing by the home side. Derby boss Jim Smith said: "We didn't punish them enough. We produced enough chances to have scored four or five goals in the game as we have in many of our recent performances." West Ham's fine home form continued with a 1-0 home victory over struggling Coventry courtesy of a 17th minute strike by former Newcastle striker Paul Kitson. Coventry's misery was compounded by the dismissal of George Boateng, a recent signing from Feyenoord, for two bookable offences. Bolton and Barnsley battled each other to a 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium for a result that does little for either side's fight for survival. Macedonian international Georgi Hristov gave Barnsley the lead after 20 minutes before Bolton's Icelandic defender Gudni Bergsson scored a superb equaliser with a stunning 35-yard shot. Crystal Palace were left searching for their first home win of the season after being held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at Selhurst Park. Matt Oakley opened the scoring for Southampton in the 39th minute before former Southampton striker Neil Shipperley levelled the match on 62 minutes. Israeli international Itzik Zohar missed a second-half penalty for Palace. __________________________________________________________ Friday, December 26, 1997 MANCHESTER UNITED 2 - 0 EVERTON Berg (14) Cole (35) Andy Cole's anointment as the official goal king of Old Trafford was confirmed with a strike straight out of the Eric Cantona catalogue of classics. The £7million striker, who had plundered goals almost at will for previous employers Newcastle, was afflicted by a crisis of confidence not so long ago. But Cole is now strutting the demanding Old Trafford stage with a meanness and arrogance which is ominous for the rest of the Premiership. Even the departed Frenchman, whose body language when partnering Cole seemed to border on contempt, would have offered a Gallic salute to the Cole goal which enriched an afternoon of easy pickings for Alex Ferguson's champions. United were already coasting at 1-0 thanks to a first League goal at United for Henning Berg when Nicky Butt presented a simple through ball for Cole. Maybe last season the striker, 25 yards out, would have looked to have unburdened the load by passing to the nearest red shirt. But not the Cole who entered this festive frolic on the back of 12 goals in 10 games. Instead, he calmly looked up to chip the sweetest of efforts over Everton goalkeeper Thomas Myhre and end the Norwegian's Premiership honeymoon of three clean sheets since joining the Merseysiders for £800,000 from Viking Stavangar. It was a carbon copy of a Cantona special against Sunderland at Old Trafford last season and helped open up a six-point lead at the top for United. If the sight of Cole in full flow didn't put the fear of God into their would-be pursuers then a sneak at United's substitutes surely would. With a hectic schedule ahead, manager Ferguson left Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham on the bench and it was an indictment of troubled Everton's toothless response to their predicament that neither were disturbed. While United go from strength to strength, Everton's flirtation with relegation is becoming a torrid affair with few signs of redemption. Howard Kendall's side were never able to build on their first away league win in 12 months last week at Leicester. Chairman Peter Johnson is sunning himself in Barbados. Its hard to determine where the greatest heat lies, in the Caribbean or Premiership basement. United, who made it six straight League wins, were able to take their foot off the gas in the second half, which clearly annoyed Goodison Park boss Kendall. Ferguson's awesome machine can do little wrong, although the United manager said: 'The six-point lead has surpassed our expectations at this stage of the season. 'The Cole goal was an absolutely brilliant one and shows the confidence that Andy is displaying right now.' Dejected Kendall would love some confidence to be injected into his sliding outfit. He said: 'It was an embarrassing 90 minutes for us. It was men against boys and the scoreline flatters us. 'Manchester United have had two days off, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I was looking for more of a battling performance, even though no-one really gave us a chance. 'United were never really extended and that isn't good enough.' What was even more galling for Everton was that United goal keeper Peter Schmeichel, absent with a back problem, wasn't missed. With Raimond Van der Gouw recovering from surgery, third choice Kevin Pilkington was shoved into the fray and, apart from a save at Danny Cadamar teri's feet, he was rarely troubled. The game was over as a contest after just 14 minutes, when United galloped into the lead. A deep corner from the impressive David Beckham was headed back across goal by Ronny Johnsen and when Everton defender Earl Barrett sliced towards his own goal Berg helped it on its way. There should have been more for United, although Myhre did brilliantly to keep out a stunning volley from Paul Scholes. Beckham, looking full of run ning and vigour, cut in from the right, ignored the lurking Cole and fired against the bar, while another Cole effort was blocked by Craig Short in front of goal as United again spurted with lightning speed into the danger area. Cole had an effort disallowed for offside, only to celebrate a few minutes later with one of the best goals of his career. Everton, in their desperation, introduced 16-year-old substitute Francis Jeffers, obviously in the belief that he couldn't do any worse than his more experienced colleagues. But United still carried the major threat as the game fizzled out to an inevitable conclusion. A ferocious Butt tackle launched United goalwards again and Myhre made a fine one handed stop from Beckham. Experienced United defender Gary Pallister said: 'We should have put a few more chances away, but even so it was a confident performance. Some of the passing and movement was first class. I felt David Beck ham's range of passing was excellent. He was pulling the strings early on. 'When you see players like Giggs and Sheringham on the bench it proves that we have a massive squad and we have great competition for places here. It means the manager can freshen things up and replace players if he wants to. 'Playing two games in two days is ridiculous and so it was important to win this one. May be we weren't stretched but we are playing with confidence.' Manchester United (4-4-2): Pilkington; G Neville, Pallister (McClair, 73min), Berg, P Neville (Curtis, 83); Johnsen, Beckham (Poborsky, 65), Butt, Scholes; Cole, Solskjaer. Booked: G Neville, Cole, Poborsky. Everton (3-5-2): Myhre; Short, Tiler, Watson (Jeffers, 46); Hinchcliffe; Barrett (Allen, 65), Ball (Thomsen, 78), Oster, Farrelly; Barmby, Cadamarteri. Booked: Farrelly, Allen. Referee: Uriah Rennie. __________________________________________________________ Man United v Everton 26/12/97 3.00 Man United (2) 2 Everton (0) 0 FT Berg 14 Cole 35 Manchester United stuffed Everton in this Boxing Day turkey shoot at Old Trafford but should have won by an even bigger margin. The damage was done during a fantastic first half by the champions, with Henning Berg scoring the first on 14 minutes - his first league goal for the Premiership leaders - before Andy Cole added a superb second 20 minutes later. Kevin Pilkington made his first league start of the season after Peter Schmeichel was believed to have left the ground to tend to a family problem just before kickoff. United took the first 10 minutes to find their stride but once they did, there was no stopping them. They opened the scoring when David Beckham's drilled corner was headed back across goal by Ronny Johnsen and Earl Barrett knocked it towards his own net for Berg to apply the final touch. The header was Berg's second goal of the season, while it was also the first time Thomas Myhre has been beaten in 284 minutes in the Everton goal. A minute later Myhre made a superb one-handed save to keep out Paul Scholes' spectacular volley from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's cross. United refused to show any Christmas spirit to the tortured Toffees, who had seven players out injured and another two suspended. Beckham cut in from the right to graze the crossbar with a shot while Solskjaer fired into the side netting on the left. Scuffles broke out in the United end as stewards tried to make standing fans sit down in the latest episode of that long-running saga. A small section of supporters refused to be seated and jeered chairman Martin Edwards. United scored a second on 29 minutes through Cole, but it was disallowed because he was offside. Still the home side poured forward and Solskjaer shot just past the post, but on 34 minutes came the inevitable second goal thanks to a piece of magic from the on-song Cole. Gary Pallister played the ball out of defence to Nicky Butt, who released Cole and checked before chipping the ball beautifully over Myhre and into the top left-hand corner. It was his 16th goal of the season and his 13th in his last 12 games. The jubilant United fans could even afford to jokingly mock Gary Neville after he unleashed a wayward shot into the crowd. They were nearly celebrating a third goal four minutes before half-time when Solskjaer's header from Gary Neville's cross was tipped over the bar by Myhre. At half-time, Everton gave teenage striker Francis Jeffers his debut when he replaced Dave Watson. United picked up where they left off after the interval and Solskjaer wasted a glorious chance to make it 3-0 after 51 minutes. The Norwegian broke free of Craig Short and was through with just Myhre to beat, but he blazed wide of the goal. But for Myhre Everton could have been even deeper in the mire and he produced another fine save, this time to deny Beckham. The visitors could not stop the flow of one-way traffic towards their goal and Myhre caught Butt's overhead kick in the 63rd minute. A minute later Carl Tiler mishit the ball and let in Beckham who fired into the side netting. Midway through the half Everton brought Graham Allen on for the transfer-listed Barrett, while Karel Poborksy replaced the highly-impressive Beckham. The pressure on the visitors' goal eventually began to slacken and on 74 minutes Brian McClair came on for Pallister. Claus Thomsen came on 11 minutes from time to boos from the Everton fans to make his first appearance since the opening day of the season. Allen and Poborsky were then booked for diving by referee Uriah Rennie. John Curtis was given a taste of the action seven minutes from time when he replaced Phil Neville as the game petered out towards the final whistle. Everton remain next to bottom of the league and to add to the Merseysiders' misery, Barnsley drew to move within two points of them. Man United: Pilkington, G. Neville, Johnsen, Pallister (McClair, 74), Beckham (Poborsky, 66), Butt, Cole, P. Neville (Curtis, 83), Scholes, Solskjaer, Berg. Subs not used: Sheringham, Giggs. Booked: G. Neville, Cole, Poborsky. Everton: Myhre, Barrett (Allen, 65), Short, Hinchcliffe, Tiler, Watson (Jeffers, 45), Ball (Thomsen, 78), Oster, Farrelly, Barmby, Cadamarteri. Subs not used: Gerrard, Thomas. Booked: Farrelly, Allen. Attendance: 55,167. Referee: U D Rennie (Sheffield). |
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