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Beckham puts United back in command
By John Ley | |
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Aston Villa (0) 0 Man Utd (0) 2 IF fortune favours the brave, then Manchester United deserve to win the Premiership title for a historic third successive time. At Villa Park last night, they were second best for all but the final 10 minutes before two goals, from David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, took them seven points clear at the top of the table. Aston Villa, going through their own ineffective spell, deserved three points but despite dominating, they succumbed to a piece of intelligent finishing from Beckham with eight minutes remaining. Giggs added the second in the 89th minute. Villa took the unexpected step of restoring Savo Milosevic to their attack, but it was more a question of necessity than desire. The Yugoslavian, disciplined after spitting in the direction of Villa fans at the end of the recent 5-0 defeat at Blackburn, later refused to play for the club but following a meeting with Doug Ellis, the Villa chairman, and manager Brian Little, he agreed to return. Little has insisted there is no future at the club for Milosevic despite the player's decision to call off his strike action. "Savo is on the transfer list and his long-term future will be away from here," said Little. The response from the fans was predictable. Previously a popular figure at Villa Park, Milosevic was booed when he took to the pitch. Clearly, with Dwight Yorke again absent through injury, this was a marriage of convenience. Given that Villa had scored once in their previous three League games, they clearly needed some form of injection in attack. But it was not only Villa who were attempting to restore confidence. Failure is not a word United are familiar with but they went into the game with only one victory from their previous five League games. Paul Scholes was again suspended and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was absent with a virus. Nicky Butt returned from a ban and leading scorer Andy Cole was restored to the attack. Gary Neville, rested for Sunday's Cup tie against Barnsley, also returned for United. Milosevic did not start like a player who had no feeling for the club. In the 13th minute he crossed to Simon Grayson, whose header went narrowly wide. United responded when, from the game's first corner, by Beckham, Stan Collymore cleared only as far as Brian McClair. The Scot, starting a Premiership game for the first time this season, struck the rebound cleanly but it was blocked by Villa captain Gareth Southgate. Collymore, who has become almost unpopular at Villa as Milosevic, offered them further hope midway through the first half with a shot from 15 yards which was only just off target. Mark Bosnich, the Villa goalkeeper who began his career at Old Trafford, rushed out to clear with his head as Beckham chased Butt's throughball. At the other end, with the game beginning to improve, Gary Pallister made a timely interception to clear another dangerous cross from Milosevic. Villa ended the first half on top and began the second period in similar style. Indeed, but for a shade more luck, they would have taken a healthy lead. United made a half-time change, with Philip Neville replacing McClair, but within two minutes of the restart Julian Joachim, operating from midfield, fed Ian Taylor, who delivered a right-footed volley which Schmeichel pushed on to the top of his left-hand post. Almost immediately afterwards, Joachim tricked his way past Denis Irwin and Butt and, with Schmeichel committed, he lifted the ball narrowly over. United remained under pressure as Villa sensed the chance to claim valuable points. Milosevic twice provided accurate crosses, with Collymore shooting wide and Taylor diving to head towards goal, only for Schmeichel to make a less than convincing save at the second attempt. Bosnich had saved from Teddy Sheringham when, in the 82nd minute, Beckham chased a free ball, beat two players and drove the ball high into the net. With a minute remaining, Beckham turned provider for Giggs to compound Villa's problems. Wednesday 18 February __________________________________________________________ Aston Villa (0) 0 Man Utd (0) 2 Beckham 82, Giggs 89. Aston Villa: Bosnich, Wright, Scimeca, Southgate, Ehiogu, Grayson, Taylor, Nelson, Milosevic, Collymore, Joachim. Subs Not Used: Hendrie, Collins, Byfield, Walker, Oakes. Booked: Grayson. Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, McClair (P. Neville 45), Berg, Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Sheringham, Giggs. Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Cruyff, Nevland, Clegg. Booked: P. Neville. Att: 39,372 Ref: M J Bodenham (East Looe). __________________________________________________________ United surge seven points clear after late burst LONDON, Feb 18 (AFP) - Manchester United surged seven points clear at the top of the English Premiership as they bounced back to form with a 2-0 victory away to struggling Aston Villa on Wednesday. But it took late goals from David Beckham (83 minutes) and Ryan Giggs (89) to secure the points for the reigning champions who had lost three out of four of their last four league games. In the night's other Premiership match, Coventry beat fellow Southampton 3-1 at the Dell courtesy of goals from Noel Whelan and Darren Huckerby. Matt Le Tissier scored for Southampton with a late penalty. At Villa Park, the opening 45 minutes were a hugely disappointing affair as United sought to put their recent poor form behind them. There were no fewer than 15 offside decisions in the first-half and it was 20 minutes before there was a glimpse of a goal when Villa misfit Stan Collymore cut inside Gary Neville and sent a low 20-yard effort a foot wide. The biggest excitement of the half revolved around Villa striker Savo Milosevic who had to endure a barrage of abuse from his own supporters. Milosevic, transfer-listed after spitting at his own fans earlier this month, was recalled to the side after a meeting with Villa manager Brian Little and club chairman Doug Ellis. But the home fans were in an unforgiving mood and they greeted the news of his inclusion with a crescendo of boos when his name was announced over the public tannoy before the kick-off. The match seemed to be heading for a draw when Beckham, who was forced to pull out of England's World Cup warm-up match with Chile last week through a hamstring injury, started and finished the move which put United ahead eight minutes from time. He fed Teddy Sheringham, kept on running to receive the return pass and then fired an unstoppable rising shot past Villa 'keeper Mark Bosnich from 15 yards out. It was his eighth goal of the campaign and then a minute from time Beckham turned provider when his left wing cross was turned in at the far post by Ryan Giggs. In the night's other match, Coventry beat Southampton in their mid-table clash at the table after two supern first half goals. The visitors opened the scoring after 14 minutes with Whelan's fourth goal in the last six Premiership matches. He collected David Burrows' deep cross just inside the penalty area and beat two challenges before firing the ball past Jones at his near post. England B international Huckerby then produced a contender for goal of the season to put Coventry in sight of victory after just 29 minutes. Whelan turned provider with a surging run from inside his own half before laying the ball to the England B international, who hit a first-time curling right-foot shot into the top corner. Le Tissier reduced the deficit after he was brought down by Roland Nilsson before picking himself up to slot home the penalty after 79 minutes. __________________________________________________________ February 19 1998 FOOTBALL Gallant Villa cheated by late double BY RUSSELL KEMPSON Aston Villa ...0 Manchester United ...2 IT WAS undeserved and unfair, as gross an injustice as is likely to be witnessed in the FA Carling Premiership this season. Yet Manchester United still won at Villa Park last night - only their second success in six league matches - and thus stretched their championship lead to seven points. How it was achieved, with lashings of good fortune, will not matter to them. Two goals in five minutes, as a frenetic game neared its end, was enough. Enough to see off the gallant efforts of Aston Villa, enough to increase the gap between themselves and their nearest challengers - Liverpool, Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers - and enough to suggest that they are not yet ready to relinquish their crown. As Chelsea, successfully, and Liverpool, unsuccessfully, fought out the semi-finals of the Coca-Cola Cup - a competition deemed insignificant by the burghers of Old Trafford - so United indulged in the real thing, the Premiership. They were edgy, poorly organised and, at times, devoid of the imagination that befits serial champions, but they came through. It is known as winning ugly in the United States and win ugly they did. Not surprisingly, Alex Ferguson, the United manager, saw the game differently, having viewed it, as usual, through his red-tinted spectacles. "Up to the last 25 minutes, it was fairly even," he said, "but then we started passing the ball and looked fresh and hungry. We got our heads down and began to express ourselves." For Brian Little, the Villa manager, it was difficult not to feel the utmost sympathy. Villa's recent league form has been as patchy as United's and has seen them slip towards the relegation zone. But for the Uefa Cup, in which they play Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals next month, there has been little to cheer at Villa Park. At first, there were little but jeers last night, with the home supporters upset by the inclusion of Milosevic in the Villa side. Milosevic had missed four matches after spitting towards Villa fans during the 5-0 defeat against Blackburn a month ago. When his name was announced over the public address system before the start, it was roundly heckled. Collymore received similar treatment, such is the discontent over his five-goal return, now in 31 matches, since his £7 million move from Liverpool during the summer. However, the temperamental pair were at the heart of most of Villa's best moves, Collymore, head down, running at the strangely hesitant United defence and Milosevic frequently drifting wide before delivering swift and accurate crosses. They tried hard, valiantly, as did most of their team-mates, only to be denied by United's late double thrust. "We started getting tired towards the end and they eventually wore us down," Little said. "We should take a lot of encouragement from that, because everyone had a good go, but United kept the ball better than us. That's what counted in the end." Neither Schmeichel nor Bosnich, the goalkeepers, were unduly troubled in a scrappy yet fascinating first half, which ebbed and flowed in entertaining if erratic fashion. United did not look like title-winners, Villa did not resemble strugglers. After the resumption, though, Villa reappeared with gusto. Taylor's drive was pushed on to the joint of crossbar and post by Schmeichel, Joachim blazed wide after brushing off the attentions of Butt and Irwin, and Collymore volleyed over from close range. Schmeichel also had to save smartly from Taylor's diving header. A goalless stalemate seemed likely until, in the 83rd minute, Beckham exchanged passes with Sheringham and beat Bosnich with a fierce shot. It was his eighth goal of the season and first in the Premiership since December. Five minutes later, with Villa barely believing the fate about to befall them, Beckham engineered the coup de grāce He whipped over a cross from the right, which Cole narrowly missed at the near post, and Giggs slotted it in. "Villa worked hard," Ferguson said. "They're going through a bad spell, like we have been, but I'm sure they'll come out of it." Such generous sentiments were undoubtedly tinged with relief. United were lucky. ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): M Bosnich - R Scimeca, U Ehiogu, G Southgate, A Wright - J Joachim, I Taylor, S Grayson, F Nelson - S Milosevic, S Collymore. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): P Schmeichel - G Neville, H Berg, G Pallister, D Irwin - D Beckham, B McClair (sub: P Neville, 46min), N Butt, R Giggs - E Sheringham, A Cole. Referee: M Bodenham. Copyright 1998 Times Newspapers Limited. __________________________________________________________ Aston Villa v Man United 18/02/98 7.45 Aston Villa (0) 0 Man United (0) 2 FT Beckham 82 Giggs 89 Manchester United's fit-again England midfielder David Beckham and Ryan Giggs sent their side seven points clear at the top of the Premiership with a late double act at Villa Park. Beckham, who was forced to pull out of England's World Cup warm-up match with Chile last week through a hamstring injury, started and finished the move which put United ahead eight minutes from time. He fed Teddy Sheringham, kept on running to receive the return pass and then fired an unstoppable rising shot past Villa 'keeper Mark Bosnich from 15 yards out. It was his eighth goal of the campaign and then a minute from time Beckham turned provider when his left wing cross was turned in at the far post by Ryan Giggs. Victory enabled the Red Devils to put their recent sticky patch behind them and move back into the driving seat in the bid to retain their title. How Alex Ferguson's rivals will probably bitterly regret failing to take advantage of a run which had seen United collect only four points from their previous five games. It was not a classic United performance and, apart from one glaring miss by Andy Cole, Villa had created the better chances before the late one-two from Beckham and Giggs. But the most important thing was that United had regained that habit of winning when not firing on all cylinders with Nicky Butt an influential figure in midfield. But for Villa there was more doom and gloom after Saturday's FA Cup reversal and the threat of being sucked into a relegation fight still hangs over their heads. Manager Brian Little instantly brought in disgrace striker Savo Milosevic straight back into his starting line-off after he ended his one-man strike following peace talks on Monday. His return was a necessity as Villa's leading scorer Dwight Yorke was ruled out for the second successive match with a calf injury. He was predictably greeted with a chorus of boos in the early stages by supporters still upset at his spitting outburst at Blackburn a month ago which resulted in him being transfer-listed. But the anger on the terraces gradually relented and the Yugoslav international was involved in most of Villa's dangerous moments in a desperately disappointing opening 45 minutes. There was precious little goalmouth action in that period between two sides who have been struggling in the Premiership in recent matches. United, with only one win in their previous five league outings, demonstrated the neater approach work. But creativity was in short supply and the Andy Cole/Teddy Sheringham and Milosevic/Stan Collymore forward combinations were caught offside a combined total of 15 times in the first half. Villa, desperate to take significant strides towards safety before returning to the UEFA Cup trail in a fortnight, managed the only shot in anger that found the target from Collymore. The former Liverpool player made a 50 yard run but his powerful effort from the edge of the area in the 29th minutes flew straight into the arms of United 'keeper Peter Schmeichel. The second half began with more purpose with Villa twice going close to breaking the deadlock inside the first ten minutes and Julian Joachim involved in both moves. First his neat chip released Ian Taylor whose powerful shot was parried onto his own crossbar by a relieved Schmeichel. Then the former Leicester player burst through the challenges of Nicky butt and Dennis Irwin into the area only to send his shot over the bar. Villa were now looking the more likely to score and an inch perfect centre from Milosevic picked out the on-rushing Taylor. However, his header lacked the full power that was needed and Schmeichel was able to gather low to his left. United were now being restricted to the occasional breakaway but Cole should have given them the lead in the 68th minute. A clearance from Grayson rebounded off Taylor into the path of Cole who found himself with a clear run at goal and only Bosnich to beat. But he had almost too much time and after advancing into the area he drilled his shot into the side netting. That looked like proving crucial before Beckham and Giggs spared his blushes. Aston Villa: (4-4-2) Bosnich, Wright, Scimeca, Southgate, Ehiogu, Grayson, Taylor, Nelson, Milosevic, Collymore, Joachim. Subs not used: Hendrie, Collins, Byfield, Walker, Oakes. Booked: Grayson. Man United: (4-4-2) Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, McClair (P. Neville, 45), Berg, Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Sheringham, Giggs. Subs not used: Van Der Gouw, Cruyff, Nevland, Clegg. Booked: P. Neville. Attendance: 39,372. Referee: M J Bodenham (East Looe). __________________________________________________________ |
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