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Thursday 19 February 1998
Issue 1000


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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