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Sheringham puts Palace in their place
By Derick Allsop | |
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Man Utd (2) 2 Crystal Palace (0) 0 THEY turned it into a casual stroll and more competent opposition would probably have mugged them, but Manchester United were content to end a momentous week by banking three Premiership points. It might have been a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's Show' as so often in the past United have faltered on their return to domestic affairs from European service, but not this time. They revelled in the after-glow of their exhilarating victory against Juventus here three days earlier. They radiated self-belief and overwhelmed the hapless Palace with the range and intensity of their football. Teddy Sheringham, having broken critical ground with his splendid contribution to the cause in the Champions' League, again paved the way for United with the opening goal. Herman Hreidarsson's own goal confirmed the scale of Palace's task. Ryan Giggs and David Beckham ought to have turned the match into a rout by half-time and the occasional raid from Atillio Lombardo sustained Palace's interest in proceedings. By way of preparation for this match, the midweek fortunes of the two sides could scarcely have contrasted more starkly. While United were eclipsing Juventus and generating a euphoria unique to the European Cup, Palace were being eliminated from the Coca-Cola Cup by Hull City, a side currently struggling to retain a foothold in the lower reaches of the Football League. The restoration of Lombardo to the team and an away record of championship standard - just one defeat from five - might have helped convince Palace this trip was not a lost cause. And yet . . . They had scored on only one of their previous six trips to Old Trafford and their hosts were oozing confidence. Giggs' dazzling performance sent shudders of apprehension across the Continent but perhaps even more significant for United was the form of Sheringham. The Cantona mantel had proved an obvious burden for the England player but on Wednesday he shed it to play with an authority and commitment that at last earned the approval of the natives. Whether United can compensate for the absence of Roy Keane through the rigours and frenzy of an entire season remains to be seen. The main responsibility for scoring goals yesterday was shared with Sheringham by Giggs, switched from the wing he exploited so ruthlessly against the Italians. Both were involved in the familiar, early intricacies of United's play, without seriously threatening Palace's goal. A more direct break by George Ndah was more menacing and Gary Pallister's mis-hit clearance gave Lombardo an opportunity he scorned with a shot high and wide of the target. Ronny Johnsen offered his alternative to United's patient probing, flexing his shooting muscles from 30 yards. Kevin Miller, in the Palace goal, was not unduly disturbed. However, after 17 minutes Beckham's corner, flighted from the left, fell for Sheringham, who composed himself and volleyed into the roof of the net. Giggs should have dispatched a second six minutes later. Released by Paul Scholes, the Welsh international ran clear to confront Miller. Reluctant to take the ball on his weaker right side, Giggs elected to curl his shot round Miller with his left foot but pushed it wide. Another six minutes on United were two up anyway. Beckham, having exchanged headers with Sheringham, attempted to pick out his England colleague with a raking cross. It dropped short but as Hreidarsson stretched to intercept, he turned the ball into his goal. Beckham drilled a shot wide as United sensed easy pickings. They were jolted, however, by a rare Palace response and Peter Schmeichel anxiously beat out a volley from Lombardo. Lombardo should have beaten the United goalkeeper early in the second half but dwelt too long on the ball and had his path blocked. United barely shifted out of third gear and it was midway through the half before Scholes examined Miller. _________________________________________________________________ Man Utd (2) 2 Crystal Palace (0) 0 Hreidarsson 30 og, Sheringham 17. Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Sheringham, Giggs, P. Neville (Irwin 85), Scholes, Berg, Johnsen (Poborsky 72). Subs Not Used: May, McClair, Van Der Gouw. Crystal Palace: Miller, Edworthy, Gordon, Roberts, Linighan (Freedman 72), Lombardo (Zohar 85), Warhurst, Rodger, Ndah, Hreidarsson, Fullarton. Subs Not Used: Shipperley, Muscat, Ormshaw. Att: 55,143 Ref: S J Lodge (Barnsley). _________________________________________________________________ Sunday Times Sheringham storms the Palace Ian Hawkey at Old Trafford Manchester United 2 Crystal Palace 0 BACK TO BUSINESS as usual for Manchester United, a perfunctory victory at the end of a profitable and proud week. Even Europe comes to the Theatre of Dreams more wary now; what chance Crystal Palace, with their one Italian and 10 artisans? Their Icelander put himself on the scoresheet, only it was in the wrong team's ledger. Palace never surrendered, indeed they got better. But the outcome was known early on. Teddy Sheringham struck the opening goal and Hermann Hreidarsson's luckless slide past his own goalkeeper made it two. Thereafter, United eased up, accommodating exhaustion, economising their efforts. "You're bound to get a falling-off at some stage after a night like we had on Wednesday," said Alex Ferguson, the United manager. "Palace might have had a couple in the second half, but I think if they'd got one we'd have put our foot back on the pedal." Stamped as champions in champion territory against Juventus, this was the backstage work, snuffing out the ambitions of their visitors before they had formed. Wham, bam, thank you; three points in the Premier League after a run that had yielded only two from the previous nine available. The respective preparations of the contestants could barely make for a sharper contrast. For United, the brave and sporadically brilliant trumping of Juventus; for Palace an ignominious defeat against Hull City in the League Cup. Steve Coppell's team, granted, had been at less than full throttle then, Attilio Lombardo having made sudden Lazarus recoveries from injury after each of the Hull games. All the same, such faux pas sit uncomfortably with the self-esteem, whatever the company. Half an hour had passed, two goals registered in the debit column before Peter Schmeichel raised a hand in anger, and that a comfortable catch to collect Paul Warhurst's tepid volley from 15 yards. Palace's best opportunities arrived after half-time when Lombardo timed a deceptive run to work his way behind the United defence and leave only Schmeichel to beat. George Ndah, weaving his way through the inside-left position, then created a similar chance for himself. Both found themselves crowded out. Lombardo, once of Juventus himself, had started wide on the right, where United retained Phil Neville as his minder, following an impressive 70 minutes in midweek. Up front, Ryan Giggs ostensibly partnered Sheringham, Paul Scholes floating behind. Ronny Johnsen kept the anchor role, and when, on 10 minutes, he hesitated over a challenge with Ndah and Ndah skipped deftly clear Roy Keane was briefly missed. But Ndah rather squandered the possession, and Johnsen's redemption arrived quickly and easily, a forceful shot whipping past Kevin Miller's right-hand post. United had nevertheless begun some way short of Wednesday's best rhythms. A neat one-two between Sheringham and Giggs phutted out with Giggs's over-hit cross. Beckham, Scholes and Beckham again likewise overclubbed searching passes with others well-placed. But as soon as they clicked, United went ahead. Beckham, offered options wide and long, played the unlikely ball to Nicky Butt just outside the Palace penalty area and Butt's muscular turn released Phillip Neville to earn a corner. Beckham swung it in, all and sundry missed it until, on the bounce, Sheringham arrowed a volley directly into the roof of Miller's net. Moments later, momentum restored, Giggs ought to have added. Put through by Scholes, with Palace caught square, Giggs elected to curve the ball around the advancing Miller rather than take him on. The effort finished just the wrong side of the upright. Still, plenty more where that came from as Palace's rearguard looked increasingly stretched. Scholes miscued an overhead kick from a Giggs centre and, from the same direction, Beckham launched another. Hreidarsson's oustretched leg met it, rolling the ball, gently, unerringly and painfully over his own goal line. He will remember his first trip to the Theatre of Dreams. Palace by now were chasing shadows, willing the coming of the half-time whistle. Within two minutes of United's second goal, Sheringham found himself awarded such freedom of the left-wing that he might have sat down, unfolded a road map and decided at leisure where to route his next cross. He opted for Beckham, to feet, and a denouement that had Beckham's first-time connection scream inches off target. Miller saved well from Scholes in the second half and Sheringham powered an attempt into the side netting. Palace were allowed a greater share of the match by then, and the one-on-ones between Lombardo, Ndah and Schmeichel spurred them on. "I tried to dummy him, but it didn't quite come off," said the Italian. Late on, he sneaked through anew to prompt another Schmeichel advance, and Itzik Zohar had a long-range free kick tipped away. Schmeichel has been made United captain in place of Keane. United do not have the best defensive record in their division for nothing. Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Pallister, Berg, P Neville (Irwin 85min), Johnsen (Poborsky 70min), Butt, Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Sheringham. Goalscorers: Sheringham 17, Hreidarsson og 30. Crystal Palace: Miller, Edworthy, Hreidarsson, Linighan (Freedman 70min), Gordon, Roberts, Rodger, Warhurst, Fullarton, Lombardo (Zohar 82min), Ndah. Weather: autumnal. Ground: good. Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley). _________________________________________________________________ Bergkamp puts Arsenal on the way to another win (Updating with details, descriptive) By Mike Collett LONDON, Oct 4 (Reuter) - Dennis Bergkamp maintained his stunning start to the season with two more goals as league leaders Arsenal overwhelmed strugglers Barnsley 5-0 at Highbury on Saturday. The 28-year-old Dutchman took his tally for the season to 11 with Arsenal's first two goals in their first league match against Barnsley since they met in the old second division in April 1915. Ray Parlour, David Platt and Ian Wright also found the net as Arsenal consolidated their place at the top of the table with 22 points from their opening 10 matches which have produced six wins and four draws. Barnsley, whose first-ever season in the top flight began brightly with two wins in their opening four games, slumped to the bottom of the table after losing for the sixth successive match. They had several chances to score but their defending against the most potent attack in the premier league was woeful and even at this early stage of the season, it seems unlikely they will avoid an instant return to the first division. Arsenal remained a point clear of champions Manchester United, who had an easier win that the 2-0 scoreline suggests against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. United had gone three matches without a league win but were never in trouble against Palace, managed by 1970s United favourite Steve Coppell. They went ahead after only 17 minutes with Teddy Sheringham, who scored the opener against Juventus in the Champions' League on Wednesday, finding the net again with a powerful half-volley from a David Beckham corner which was not cleared properly. United doubled their lead 13 minutes later when a cross from Ryan Giggs was diverted into his own net by Icelandic international Hermann Hreidarsson. Palace had their chances in the second half but never seriously threatened the home side, who were on cruise control for much of the rest of the match. United manager Alex Ferguson said afterwards: "We did well to get into the game so quickly and getting the first goal early was very important, but it was perhaps too comfortable for us in the first half. "But we eased off in the second half -- and perhaps that is understandable -- but Palace could have scored two or three goals. But I felt that if Palace had scored, we still had it in us to go up a gear or two again." Blackburn moved back up to third place with a 1-0 win at Wimbledon, thanks to a sixth-minute winner from Chris Sutton. Sutton needed less than six minutes to demonstrate that his hot streak was still bubbling, despite two goalless games. Sutton collected a pass from Jeff Kenna, turned past Chris Perry's challenge and slid the ball past Wimbledon keeper Neil Sullivan for his 10th goal of the season. Newcastle also won 1-0 and moved up from 10th to sixth with three games in hand on the leading trio, but unlike Blackburn's early winner, their goal against Tottenham came with almost the last kick of the game. Warren Barton was the first to react to the ball when Ian Walker failed to hold a David Batty half-volley, and gave Walker no second chance with his close-range angled shot. Newcastle, who beat Tottenham 7-1 last season were without any of the men who scored their goals then -- Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Robert Lee and Philippe Albert. Ferdinand has since moved to Tottenham along with ex-Newcastle players David Ginola and Ruel Fox, who looked as though they were going to celebrate at least a point on their return before Barton's late strike. Aston Villa maintained their recent improvement with a 1-0 win at Bolton, where Savo Milosevic's 12th-minute goal -- his first league goal of the season -- was enough to give his side victory. Milosevic also scored Villa's winner in their 1-0 UEFA Cup victory over Bordeaux on Tuesday but instead of his goal making the local headlines, the talking point was the last-minute double sending-off of Bolton's Andy Todd and Villa's Stan Collymore. Todd, the son of Bolton manager Colin, and the Villa striker, traded punches after an off-the-ball incident just inside the Villa half and the referee had no hesitation in showing them both the red card. While Barnsley slid to the bottom of the table, it was a better day for Southampton, who moved up to 19th after beating West Ham 3-0. © Reuters Limited 1997 _________________________________________________________________ Man United v Crystal Palace 04/10/97 3.00 Man United (2) 2 Crystal Palace (0) 0 FT Sheringham 17 Hreidarsson 30 (og) Manchester United's England contingent helped to effortlessly overpower Crystal Palace to give Glenn Hoddle the perfect World Cup boost. With the make-or-break qualifier against Italy just a week away, Hoddle must have been praying that David Beckham, Teddy Sheringham, Nicky Butt, Gary Pallister, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers Gary and Phil did not succumb to the injury crisis that has bighted Old Trafford this term. But he need not have worried. Alex Ferguson's champions eased up through the gears in the first half to shatter Palace's hopes of stretching United's winless run in the Premiership to four matches. And after Teddy Sheringham - with his second strike in successive matches - and a Herman Hreidarsson own goal had made the points secure, United then cruised home after the break despite a spirited riposte by Steve Coppell's visitors. Ferguson made just one change to the team that finished Wednesday's classic Champions' League victory over Juventus, Butt coming back in after recovering from concussion and Denis Irwin dropping down to the bench. And the Reds immediately began to give Palace a torrid first-half examination that should have brought more than two goals. Ryan Giggs, Beckham and Sheringham in particular looked in the mood to give Palace boss Coppell an afternoon of pure torment on his return to the club he graced as a player. Hreidarsson escaped when Giggs' first-minute cross seemed to strike him on the arm, referee Stephen Lodge waving away the penalty appeals. But that was the cue for United to probe, press and pen Palace back with the kind of patient but penetrating football that destroyed Juventus three days earlier. Ronny Johnsen sent in a raking long-range drive that flew wide before United's dominance told after 17 minutes. Andy Linighan did well to head Phil Neville's dangerous cross over his own crossbar but, from Beckham's corner, the ball fell perfectly for Sheringam at the far post and his thunderous half-volley flashed high past Kevin Miller. It was Sheringham's third goal of the campaign and was great news for England coach Hoddle. Indeed, another two of his England contingent linked up again moments later, but Scholes' cross was just too strong for the incoming Phil Neville. The Reds should certainly have doubled their lead in the 24th minute with a counter-attack that ripped Palace wide open, Pallister's headed clearance, Beckham's flamboyant flick and Scholes' perfectly weighted pass sending Giggs racing clear only for the Welsh winger to curl his shot wide. Palace looked lambs to the slaughter and the only surprise was that it took another 12 minutes for United to score again. Giggs, once again brilliant in a central striking role, drifted out to the right and his inswinging cross forced Icelandic international Hreidarsson to slide the ball into his own net with Sheringham hovering with intent just behind. Beckham powered a low 18-yard drive a fraction wide after linking up with Sheringham and, although Lombardo replied by forcing Schmeichel into a fine block, Palace were happy to hear the half-time whistle. The Londoners certainly showed greater ambition on the restart - only for Schmeichel to keep them at bay. First Lombardo found himself in the shadow of the great Dane after being put clear by Paul Warhurst and Schmeichel saved at his feet. And then George Ndah was one-on-one with the United keeper, only for Schmeichel to once again come out to block out the danger. United were clearly going back down through the gears, but they almost put Palace in their place with a third goal when Giggs teed up Scholes to drill in a low shot that Miller gathered at the second attempt. Schmeichel, though, was once again forced to win another war of nerves with Lombardo, producing another smart block, before the Italian was substituted 11 minutes from time smarting from the knowledge that this week he was easily second best. Man United: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Sheringham, Giggs, P. Neville (Irwin, 85), Scholes, Berg, Johnsen (Poborsky, 72). Subs not used: May, McClair, Van Der Gouw. Crystal Palace: Miller, Edworthy, Gordon, Roberts, Linighan (Freedman, 72), Lombardo (Zohar, 85), Warhurst, Rodger, Ndah, Hreidarsson, Fullarton. Subs not used: Shipperley, Muscat, Ormshaw. Attendance: 55,143. Referee: S J Lodge (Barnsley). |
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