Copy from
Electronic Telegraph


Sunday 29 March 1998
Issue 1038


Johnsen relieves United anxiety
By Derick Allsop


External Links

Wimbledon Pics
Download United Program/Patch files



   Man Utd (0) 2 Wimbledon (0) 0

   MANCHESTER United picked up their championship mantle from around
   their ankles and defiantly draped it around their shoulders again,
   courtesy of two goals in a breathless final eight minutes from Ronny
   Johnsen and Paul Scholes.
   
   United, in danger of losing all from a season that promised
   everything, endured more frustration against the fabled anti-heroes.
   An all-too-familiar catalogue of spurned opportunities compounded the
   anxieties of a club destabilised by the continued absence of Ryan
   Giggs and Peter Schmeichel.
   
   United laid siege to Wimbledon's goal for much of the first half yet
   rarely threatened to ruffle the composure of their goalkeeper, Neil
   Sullivan.
   
   United's planned renaissance was undermined before a ball could be
   contested in anger, Alex Ferguson again having to eliminate Giggs and
   Schmeichel from his equation. Both failed fitness tests on strained
   hamstrings and Giggs's state of health is causing particular concern
   at Old Trafford. Some sources suggest he may be struggling to play any
   further part in this championship campaign.
   
   By way of pernicious irony, the Welshman did appear on the pitch
   yesterday to receive an award as scorer of Match of the Day's goal of
   the month.
   
   Nicky Butt was another injury casualty, while Teddy Sheringham was
   serving a one-match suspension. On the credit side for Ferguson, the
   Neville brothers, David Beckham, Scholes and Andy Cole were named in
   his starting line-up.
   
   United's whirlwind opening might have produced two goals in four
   minutes. Scholes turned on Gary Neville's long throw and thrashed the
   ball into the side-netting. Cole then raced on to Raimond van der
   Gouw's clearance only to shoot straight at Sullivan's legs.
   
   Wimbledon demonstrated similarly positive intent and Gary Neville was
   twice forced into hasty interceptions, while van der Gouw was given
   the opportunity to prove he is a worthy understudy to Schmeicel.
   
   United came back with a torrid spell midway through the first half.
   Beckham pulled a free-kick to the left of Sullivan's goal, Gary
   Neville dragged his shot to the right and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer headed
   across the face of the Wimbledon goal.
   
   The Norwegian squandered two more chances early in the second half,
   and Sullivan tipped over Beckham's chip.
   
   Eight minutes from the end, when it seemed United had run out of hope
   as well as ideas, they scored. Wimbledon were unable to clear
   Beckham's third corner in succession and although Sullivan got a hand
   to Johnsen's shot, he could not keep it out.
   
   Scoles banished the tension with a second for United in the final
   minute.
   _________________________________________________________________
   
   Man Utd (0) 2 Wimbledon (0) 0
   Johnsen 83, Scholes 90.

   Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, G. Neville, Irwin, May, Johnsen, Beckham, Cole
   (McClair 90), P. Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer (Thornley 81), Berg. Subs
   Not Used: Pilkington, Casper, Curtis. Booked: Berg, May.

   Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Thatcher, Earle, Roberts,
   Gayle (Euell 60), Perry, Hughes, Ardley, Leaburn. Subs Not Used:
   Heald, Reeves, Fear, Francis. Booked: Thatcher, Cunningham.

   Att: 55,306
   Ref: D J Gallagher (Banbury).
   _________________________________________________________________

   March 29 1998 FOOTBALL
   
   United stage late revival while Arsenal win again 
   
   Joe Lovejoy at Old Trafford
   Manchester United 2 Wimbledon 0 
   
   IT WAS hardly a fixture to which anyone would have attached special
   significance at the start of the season but, make no mistake about it,
   wins come no bigger than this, and if Manchester United do hang on and
   retain their title, they may well look back upon yesterday's
   nail-biter as their most important result of all.
   
   With 82 minutes on the clock, the League leaders seemed likely to drop
   another two precious points to Arsenal, who won again, and are proving
   the most relentless of pursuers. United had pounded the Wimbledon
   goal, but finished like Mr Magoo in a coal cellar, and Old Trafford's
   biggest audience of the season had fallen silent, fearing the worst,
   before Ronny Johnsen finally put them out of their misery.
   
   Johnsen, more than any other player, has galled Alex Ferguson with his
   various injuries this season, but the United manager was first among
   the backslappers when the Norwegian defender-turned-midfielder left
   the field after this vital scoring contribution.
   
   Crowd and players alike were staring at a sixth match without a win,
   and a major nail in their title coffin, when Johnsen fastened on to
   the loose ball after a David Beckham corner and drilled an unstoppable
   half-volley past goalkeeper Neil Sullivan in the Wimbledon goal.
   
   Paul Scholes headed in the second at the death to ensure the scoreline
   more accurately reflected a one-sided match. But there was no
   disputing the man of the moment. After an in-and-out season, Rocket
   Ronny had made his mark.
   
   Ferguson, relief personified, said: "I can't disguise how delighted I
   am. For a long time it looked like we weren't going to get what we
   deserved, and that Arsenal were going to get a massive boost, but we
   persevered and got a break."
   
   The United manager insisted that Arsenal were "still in the driving
   seat", courtesy of their three matches in hand but his face told
   another story. The champions have the bit between their teeth again
   and it will take some dislodging.
   
   The confidence rebuilt by this restorative result will be buttressed
   by the return of Peter Schmeichel, Gary Pallister, Nicky Butt and Ryan
   Giggs, all of whom are expected to be back by the time United play
   again, away to Blackburn Rovers next Monday.
   
   Ferguson said a 10-day break, for the midweek internationals, had
   given his players a welcome chance to regroup after the Richter Scale
   shock of defeat by Arsenal and elimination from the European Cup.
   
   Wimbledon, too, are in need of points, in their case to pull clear of
   the relegation dogfight. And the disappointment of Joe Kinnear, their
   manager, was reflected in his uncharacteristic unwillingness to
   comment after the match.
   
   The Dons defences were penetrated twice in the first five minutes.
   First Scholes turned neatly on Gary Neville's long throw, only to
   shoot into the side-netting, then Raimond van der Gouw's Route One
   clearance allowed Cole to burst past Ben Thatcher, but he drove the
   ball into the advancing keeper's legs.
   
   That was to be the way of it. Invigorated by their break, United were
   always dominant, with Cole's pace and determination the likeliest
   source of a goal. But of the fusillade of shots directed at the
   Wimbledon goal the best of the first half came, improbably, from the
   left boot of Gary Neville, who cut inside at pace before unleashing a
   skimming drive that was too close for Sullivan's comfort.
   
   The second half followed the same pattern: United surging forward,
   Wimbledon falling back in good order, with no Giggs magic to surprise
   and unhinge their stubborn defence.
   
   Twice in the space of a few minutes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should have
   put United out of their goalless misery but finished like a man bereft
   of confidence. Strange this, after his equalising goal for Norway in
   Belgium in midweek.
   
   Beckham had a centre-cum-shot touched over, Cole and Irwin tried their
   luck from distance. It was all United, but self-belief seemed to drain
   from them at the sight of the 18-yard line. To the relief of those of
   the red persuasion, Ardley caught the bug when Wimbledon managed a
   rare breakaway, shooting tamely over.
   
   United deserved a goal to reward their territorial supremacy, but the
   ball refused to go in. Irwin set up Cole but the striker was unable to
   get sufficient power behind his shot and, when poor Solskjaer got
   another chance, he infuriated the crowd by passing straight to Kimble.
   
   Time, and the crowd's patience, was fast running out when Beckham's
   corner from the left was cleared only as far as Johnsen, whose finish
   brooked no argument.
   
   Still it was not over, and Michael Hughes might have restored parity
   with a shot which took a wicked deflection, and Carl Leaburn contrived
   to head the ball off the line when it seemed easier to score, before
   United's second allowed their edge-of-the-seat following to relax. Ben
   Thornley, on as substitute for the hapless Solskjaer, delivered a good
   left-wing cross which Beckham met at the far post, nodding it back
   whence it came for Scholes to head home, close in.
   
   The bookmakers were quick to confirm United as 3-1 on favourites for
   the title, but Ferguson, a noted punter, said he would be having none
   of that: "I'm certainly not going to back us at those odds - after
   all, Arsenal have got to drop points for us to win it." More kidology.
   After this result, the smart money is on United.
   
   Manchester United: Van Der Gouw, G Neville, Irwin, May, Johnsen,
   Beckham, Cole (McClair 90), P Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer (Thornley
   81), Berg. Unused: Pilkington, Casper, Curtis.
   
   Wimbledon:Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Thatcher, Earle, Roberts,
   Gayle (Euell 60), Perry, Hughes, Ardley, Leaburn. Unused: Heald,
   Reeves, Fear, Francis.
   
   Scorers: Goals: Johnsen 83, Scholes 90.
   Substitutes: Manchester United: Solskjaer (Thornley 81min), Cole
   (McClair 90min).
   Booked: Berg (16min), Thatcher (20min), Cunningham (27min), May
   (83min).
   
   Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).
   Attendance: 55,306.

   Copyright 1998 Times Newspapers Ltd. 
   _________________________________________________________________

     United win, but violence flares at English grounds
     
     (adds violence, match details, quotes,)
     By Simon Haydon
     LONDON, March 28 (Reuters) - Manchester United belatedly
     rediscovered some scoring form to beat Wimbledon 2-0 in the English
     premier league on Saturday and maintain a six-point lead over
     Arsenal who defeated Sheffield Wednesday 1-0.

     But soccer action was overshadowed by violence around English
     grounds.

     A fan died and several others were taken to hospital after a match
     between second division Gillingham and Fulham. There was also
     trouble at Barnsley and Everton.

     At Old Trafford, the reigning champions battered away at the
     stubborn Wimbledon defence for 83 minutes before Norwegian defender
     Ronny Johnsen rifled home a loose ball to break the deadlock.

     Paul Scholes added a second in the dying seconds to give United
     their first win in six matches.

     "We showed today that we have the stomach for a battle," said
     Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. "With that kind of stomach
     we've got a real shout for the championship."

     His opposite number Joe Kinnear accused referee David Gallagher of
     being afraid to give decisions against Manchester United and said
     three home players were offside when they scored their first goal.

     "We have to suffer because the referee does not have any bottle. It
     (the goal) was a turning point for us. Up to then we were
     coasting...he had a pathetic game, I am bitterly disappointed,"
     said the outspoken Kinnear.

     Manchester United now have 63 points from 32 games, Arsenal are on
     57 from 29 and Liverpool have 54 from 31. Fourth-placed Chelsea
     play Middlesbrough in the final of the League Cup on Sunday.

     Arsenal, unbeaten for nine matches, kept up the pressure on the
     champions with a 35th minute goal fired home by Dutch striker
     Dennis Bergkamp, his 19th of the season, after a cool through ball
     from compatriot Marc Overmars.

     Bergkamp will miss Arsenal's next three games through suspension.
     Third-placed Liverpool featured in the most dramatic game of the
     day against struggling Barnsley, where the Yorkshire club ended the
     game with no points and just eight players on the field after three
     were sent off.

     Play was interrupted in the 65th minute when Chris Morgan became
     the second Barnsley man sent off after elbowing a Liverpool player.
     The visitors were winning 2-1 and a spectator, who ran onto the
     pitch in an apparent effort to get at referee Gary Willard, had to
     be restrained by players.

     Scuffles broke out on and off the pitch. Players clashed and match
     officials had to be escorted from the pitch before play could
     resume.

     Barnsley, with nine men, managed an equaliser to make the score 2-2
     before Steve McManaman grabbed a 90th minute winner. Seconds later
     Barnsley's Darren Sheridan was sent off.

     At the other end of the premier league Tottenham Hotspur drove
     bottom-placed Crystal Palace deeper into trouble with a 3-1 away
     victory.

     Second to bottom Bolton beat Leicester 2-0, Alan Thompson scoring
     two second half goals. Bolton's Icelandic defender Gudni Bergsson
     and Leicester's Robert Ullathorne were both sent off.

     Palace remain bottom, with 26 points, Bolton have 30 and Barnsley
     31. Everton drop to fourth from bottom after a 4-1 thumping at home
     to Aston Villa.

     Newcastle, after a turbulent two weeks in which Sir John Hall
     returned after a boardroom scandal involving the chairman and
     deputy chairman of the club, flopped 2-1 away to Southampton, Matt
     Le Tissier scoring an 85th minute penalty to deepen the
     northeastern club's problems.

     In the lower echelons, Notts County became the first league side
     since World War Two to be promoted in March when they beat Leyton
     Orient 1-0 to take an unassailable 19-point lead in Division Three.
   
                           © Reuters Limited 1998
   _________________________________________________________________

   Ferguson's ruling passion 
   By Russell Thomas

   Saturday March 28, 1998
   
   The status quo was rigorously if belatedly enforced, much to the
   relief of red legions who were also reassured by Alex Ferguson's
   message that he will continue ruling from his Old Trafford dais well
   into the next millennium. But what of football's poor? They are always
   with us, victims of harsh decisions mocking their efforts to rise from
   the bottom of the pile.

   Joe Kinnear did not need the unfolding drama at Barnsley to support
   his long-held view; he perceived injustice at first hand here.
   Unusually Wimbledon's manager declined to comment at the post-match
   press conference but his words to television still reverberated.

   United, in terms of territorial advantage and chances created,
   deserved the two late goals noisily acclaimed by Old Trafford's
   biggest crowd of the season. It was a triumph of the defending
   champions' will but it was nail-chewing stuff. For Kinnear it left
   only the taste of bitter aloes.

   Bitter? "Very bitter."

   The first goal, he insisted "was a massive boob by the referee. He
   bottled it; he was like a muppet for them". Wimbledon always had to
   give way at free-kicks, he said. "We went 10 yards back for them; they
   went back four yards for us."

   It is a familiar Kinnear lament when confronted by the Premiership's
   big guns and one that again will be scrutinised by the FA's
   disciplinary department. Yet Kinnear has a point about the refereeing
   of Dermot Gallagher and the linesmanship. Wimbledon's Robbie Earle was
   being generous when he claimed that two United players were off-side
   when the outstanding Ronny Johnsen fiercely struck home after 83
   minutes. Television replays show three and Gallagher well placed to
   question the linesman.

   Kinnear was five-sixths correct in his forecast that the United
   contingent withdrawn by Ferguson from England's squad in midweek would
   be miraculously restored to fitness. Nicky Butt (calf) was the only
   one of that band missing. Teddy Sheringham was allowed to travel to
   Berne but was serving a one-match suspension on Saturday.

   Ferguson must be privately concerned about Andy Cole - one goal in 12
   games - and Ole Solskjaer - missing so many chances. Cole, who was
   carried off with an ankle injury at the end, is so quick to see and
   take advantage of defenders outside the area, but often cannot
   transport that quality inside. Neil Sullivan twice saved well from him
   but both opportunities should have been accepted. Solskjaer mis-kicked
   a chance horribly.

   All this does not seem to bother Ferguson. But of whispers that he was
   contemplating retirement after 12 years in charge he wrote in the
   match programme: "Frankly it bugs me. I am 56, feel as fit as a I ever
   did and have a lot more to achieve. I intend to work into my 60s
   because Manchester United is my life... There is important work to
   do." Such as justifying the bookmakers' odds on United winning the
   title for a fifth time in six years.

   Ferguson has been this way many times before. "Arsenal are in the
   driving seat," he said. "They've got to lose points for us to win it."
   His expression, and tone of voice, told a much more confident United
   story

   Guardian
   _________________________________________________________________
                                      
                    Man United v Wimbledon 28/03/98 3.00
                                      
Man United              (0) 2 Wimbledon               (0) 0 FT
Johnsen 83
Scholes 90

   Ronny Johnsen scored his first FA Carling Premiership goal eight
   minutes from time to keep Manchester United in the title hunt as the
   reigning champions won 2-0 at Old Trafford.
   
   The Norwegian's timing was perfect as he popped up to break the
   deadlock just as it seemed the champions would be frustrated by
   Wimbledon in their attempts to collect all three points.
   
   Paul Scholes headed home United's second in stoppage time to give the
   scoreline a truer reflection of the game.
   
   Manager Alex Ferguson admitted that he had never felt as down has he
   had after their Champions' League exit against Monaco, but this result
   and performance will have gone far to lift his spirits again.
   
   The victory was no less than United deserved after they dominated
   proceedings from start to finish.
   
   But their hopes of recording their first win this month ran into
   Wimbledon's nine-man defence until Johnsen's timely intervention.
   
   The win was United's eighth in succession over the Dons in the league,
   but few of those other victories were as vital as this one.
   
   United desperately needed all three points to get their title
   challenge back on track after a disastrous spell, which had seen
   Arsenal haul themselves back into the championship race.
   
   Before the match Ryan Giggs came out to receive his award for winning
   the February Goal of the Month competition, but unfortunately that was
   the closest he got to playing.
   
   The Welshman suffered a reaction to his hamstring injury in training
   yesterday and was sidelined again.
   
   United began determined to put their poor March form of two defeats
   and three draws behind them.
   
   Scholes fired into the side netting after only two minutes before Dons
   goalkeeper Neil Sullivan saved Andy Cole's powerful shot with his
   legs. David Beckham then curled a free-kick just past Sullivan's far
   post before Gary Neville went close with a left, yes left, foot shot.
   
   Still United maintained the pressure, but still the Wimbledon defence
   refused to yield and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer headed just wide.
   
   On 32 minutes, Beckham was not far away with another free-kick, which
   he curled into the side netting from 25 yards out.
   
   The visitors were restricted to very little at the other end, but two
   minutes before half-time Michael Hughes released Marcus Gayle with a
   long ball.
   
   As Gayle connected with it Raimond van der Gouw collided with him and
   Henning Berg hoofed the ball clear.
   
   Within seconds of the restart, Chris Perry fouled Cole for a free-kick
   on the edge of the area and up stepped Beckham once more and this time
   his right-foot effort was deflected for a corner.
   
   On 52 minutes Sullivan sliced his clearance to Solskjaer, but the
   goalkeeper recovered to save the Norwegian's shot.
   
   Four minutes later Solskjaer was presented with a great chance on 56
   minutes when Phil Neville played the ball across to him on the left in
   front of goal, but he completely missed his kick.
   
   United were becoming increasingly frustrated by their failure to break
   down the Dons' defence.
   
   Even when they did manage to penetrate Wimbledon's back line they came
   up against a defiant Sullivan, who produced a wonderful save to tip
   Beckham's curling effort away for a corner.
   
   Cole then had an effort deflected into the side netting as United
   continued to dominate.
   
   Cole should have scored after 73 minutes when he was released on the
   right, but again Sullivan blocked his shot. Then came the break
   through which looked like it would never come.
   
   Wimbledon failed to clear Beckham's corner from the right and Johnsen
   drove the ball home past Sullivan.
   
   The Dons almost snatched an equaliser two minutes later when Hughes'
   shot was deflected just past the post for a corner.
   
   In stoppage time substitute Ben Thornley, who had replaced Solskjaer
   nine minutes from time, crossed to Beckham who nodded the ball back
   for Scholes to head home the second from close-range.
   
   Man United: (4-4-2) Van Der Gouw, G. Neville, Irwin, May, Johnsen,
   Beckham, Cole (McClair, 90), P. Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer (Thornley,
   81), Berg.
   Subs not used: Pilkington, Casper, Curtis.
   Booked: Berg, May.
   
   Wimbledon: (4-4-2) Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Thatcher, Earle,
   Roberts, Gayle (Euell, 60), Perry, Hughes, Ardley, Leaburn.
   Subs not used: Heald, Reeves, Fear, Francis.
   Booked: Thatcher, Cunningham.
   
   Attendance: 55,306.
   Referee: D J Gallagher (Banbury).


[main] [top scorers] [league results/table] [match reports] [archive]
[gallery] [united faq] [links] [sign my guestbook]

Any comments are welcomed.

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.

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...