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Sunday 10 May 1998
Issue 1081


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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