Copy from![]() |
Electronic Telegraph
|
![]() |
![]() |
Giggs supplies gloss finish for stylish United
By Henry Winter at Old Trafford | |
External Links
|
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). |
![]() |
[main] [top scorers] [league results/table] [match reports]
[archive] [gallery] [united faq] [links] [sign my guestbook]
© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.
Telegraph Group Limited endeavours to ensure that the information is
correct but does not accept any liability for error or omission.
Users are permitted to copy some material for their personal use, but may
not republish any substantial part of the data either on another website or
as part of any commercial service without the prior written permission of
Telegraph Group Limited.
Note : At times, reports are taken from Reuters and FA Carling Net. |
|
Today's edition of Electronic
Telegraph...![]() |
![]() |