Copy from
Electronic Telegraph


Thursday 6 November 1997
Issue 896


Cole on fire as United warm to their task
By Henry Winter in Rotterdam


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          Feyenoord (0) 1 Man Utd (2) 3
          
          IN A stadium seething with anger, Manchester United kept
          their nerve and their 100 per cent record in Group B of the
          Champions' League with a fine team performance spiced with a
          hat-trick by Andy Cole which took his tally to eight goals in
          three games. This was a night when United showed their
          character, their accuracy in front of goal and their composure
          in the teeth of some ugly moments.
          
          Dutch excess was not confined to their fans, who had ambushed
          their United counterparts earlier. The visitors' full-backs
          were both targeted by Feyenoord. Gary Neville received Julio
          Cruz's forearm in his face while Denis Irwin was stamped on by
          Paul Bosvelt, a heinous act that prompted Alex Ferguson to
          complain to Feyenoord coach Geert Meijer.
          
          Despite such provocation, Ferguson's players retained their
          composure and the quarter-finals beckon with two group games
          remaining. Ferguson's side now face what should be a home
          banker, modest Kosice at Old Trafford, in three weeks' time
          before the Dec 10 trip to Juventus, a journey that looks far
          less daunting than it did two months ago.
          
          An air of unease had palsied the initial stages, the players
          seemingly distracted by the tension on the terraces. The sight
          of riot police insinuating themselves between rival fans was a
          sad one but inevitable given events earlier. The ambushing of
          United supporters' coaches, reportedly as revenge for the
          trashing of two downtown cafes, lent an extra dark touch to the
          night sky over De Kuip.
          
          Only after 20 minutes did the game begin to breathe. Giovanni
          van Bronckhorst, Feyenoord's excellent midfielder, seemed the
          one Dutch player capable of punishing United with an accurate
          pass or shot. Van Bronckhorst announced his presence with a low
          drive, safely smothered by Peter Schmeichel, before attempting
          to bisect United's defence. Henning Berg, anticipating well,
          cleared the danger.
          
          United were resisting the intermittent pressure with their
          usual resilience. Feyenoord's limited sting drawn, the
          confident champions of England went seeking glory. How
          marvellous it was to behold these young Englishmen playing with
          maturity and athleticism, expressing their undoubted technical
          expertise on Europe's most demanding stage. Composed and
          clear-eyed, they waited for their chances and then took them.
          
          Fittingly, Cole gave the first warning, wriggling away in
          pursuit of David Beckham's chip and firing low at Jurek Dudek.
          Then came Teddy Sheringham, exploiting Kees van Wonderen's
          hashed clearance, and delivering a meaty volley which Dudek did
          brilliantly to claw away.
          
          United were in the mood, gliding forward as if they knew every
          touch could hurt the Dutch. Just after the half hour they had
          their reward. Beckham's pressure forced Patricio Graff into
          conceding possession, the Feyenoord wing-back falling
          awkwardly, so adding injury to insult.
          
          Gary Neville, alive to the situation, reacted well, lifting the
          ball powerfully over Feyenoord's back-pedalling defence. Cole,
          a striker who can suddenly do no wrong, charged on, keeping
          pace with Bernard Chuiteman. The Feyenoord man desperately
          attempted to clear but could only strike the ball at Cole, who
          lifted the ball in over Dudek.
          
          United's euphoria was immense, the pleasure increased because
          of Cole's dressing-room popularity. Graff, meanwhile, was being
          helped away. The heat did not abate, though, and Igor Korneev
          and Paul Scholes were cautioned for a minor disagreement,
          Korneev appearing the worst offender by administering a painful
          to Scholes.
          
          Feyenoord were also hit where it hurts, Cole inflicting further
          damage just before half-time. If the first goal contained an
          element of fortune, this strike was exceptional in creation and
          execution. Good interplay down the inside-right channel between
          Beckham and Sheringham culminated in Beckham racing free, his
          every stride shimmering with danger. His centre was low and
          square and true, arriving sweetly for Cole to score with a
          10-yard shot placed perfectly to Dudek's left.
          
          A brief scare early after the turnaround, when van
          Bronckhorst's rising drive pounded into Schmeichel's bar,
          reminded United of the dangers lurking at this level. But, in
          truth, Feyenoord were unthreatening, apart from in the
          occasional illegal arts, as brutally witnessed when Julio
          Cruz's left forearm crashed into Gary Neville's face. Sandor
          Puhl missed the offence but television's all-seeing eye did
          not.
          
          United kept their composure and continued to look for
          counter-attacking possibilities. Giggs fired over. Cole span
          his defender arrogantly but lifted his cross too close to
          Dudek. Then Sheringham tried to lob the goalkeeper but got it
          wrong.
          
          No matter. After 74 minutes, as United's fans were chanting
          "One team in Holland - Ajax", Cole completed his hat-trick,
          following a move of gathering grandeur. Pallister, increasingly
          impressive when venturing forward, combined exquisitely with
          Giggs, who raced into the area, slipped Dudek and squared the
          ball for Cole. His finish was simple, the celebration ecstatic
          as he became the first United player to score three goals in a
          Champions' Cup game since Denis Law against Waterford in 1968.
          
          The Dutch began to file out, their season destroyed, by a team
          marching irresistibly across Europe, though there was one final
          flourish, a fine 20-yard goal from Korneev.
            __________________________________________________________
          
          Group B
          
          Feyenoord (0) 1 Man Utd (2) 3
          Korneev 87; Cole 31, 44, 73.

          Feyenoord: Dudek, Van Gobbel, Boateng, Schuiteman, Van
          Wonderen, Graff (Claeys 34), Bosvelt (Zwijnenberg 81), Van
          Gastel, Van Bronckhorst, Korneev, Cruz (Vos 76). Subs Not Used:
          Petry, Picun, Sanchez, Glaucio. Booked: Claeys, Cruz.

          Man Utd: Schmeichel, Irwin (P. Neville 81), G. Neville, Berg,
          Pallister, Butt, Scholes (Poborsky 76), Beckham, Giggs, Cole
          (Solskjaer 73), Sheringham. Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw,
          McClair, Thornley, Curtis. Booked: Scholes.
          Ref: Sandor Puhl (Hungary).
          
          Juventus (1) 3 FC Kosice (0) 2
          Del Piero 44 Lubarskij 66
          Amoruso 56 Kozak 71
          Fonseca 60
          
	                P   W   D   L    F    A   Pts
	Manchester Utd  4   4   0   0   11    4   12
	Juventus        4   3   0   1   11    6    9
	Feyenoord       4   1   0   3    5   10    3
	FC Kosice       4   0   0   4    2    9    0

          FIXTURES.- Nov 26: Feyenoord v Juventus. Nov 27: Manchester Utd
          v FC Kosice. Dec 10: FC Kosice v Feyenoord, Juventus v
          Manchester Utd.
            __________________________________________________________

Cole on fire

Thursday, November 6, 1997

Andy Cole, the  7million striker who has fired more blanks than bullets since
 his move from Newcastle, last night proved that the tide has turned when he
 collected his second hat-trick in three games for Manchester United.

His goals in a trouble-hit De Kuip Stadium, continued United's 100 percent
 record in Group B of the Champions League and leaves them on the brink of a
 place in the last eight.

For months after his record move in January 1995 Cole appeared
incapable of hitting a barn door from 10 paces. Now, however,
everything he touches, with foot or even knee, is ending up in the net, the
 confidence flowing through him and carrying United along in his slipstream.

But neither United manager Alex Ferguson, UEFA, nor the Dutch police will be
 anything other than disturbed by the peripheral events which surrounded this
 masterful footballing performance.

Too often the Dutch players used intimidatory tactics to try to gain some
 revenge for perceived wrongs from the first leg. On a night when we witnessed
 further evidence that the plague of the organised hooligan is re-emerging, we
 also saw Feyenoord players trying to injure opponents on and off the ball. Not
 one Unite player retaliated and they deserve praise for their self-restraint.

Feyenoord became, in the end, as unreliable as the city police and the stadium
 segregation fences which repeatedly allowed hooligans to break through and
 battle with each other.

Cole was marvellous throughout. Before he was offered the three chances to
 score, he had already linked well with his back to goal and used the flatness
 of Feyenoord's one-paced defence to his advantage.

His emergence is down to Ferguson, who shrewdly kept faith when Cole's doubters
 heavily-outnumbered his supporters.

Cole, whose hat-trick was the first by a United player in a Champions Cup match
 since Denis Law in 1968, is simply oozing confidence - but that is not to
 overlook the quality - and quantity - of chances being offered.

Last night it was Gary Neville's long ball, David Beckham's perfect square cross
 and Ryan Giggs's open-goal lay-up which gave him his hat-trick.

Even Gary Pallister got in on the act last night by showing deft footwork which
 belies his massive frame, to cut through midfield on two occasions - the first
 to set up Giggs for a chance scorned and the second to help create Cole's
 hat-trick.

Henning Berg fitted in as if he had never been away and the message, with Ronny
 Johnsen, Ole Solskjaer, Phil Neville, Karel Poborsky and Jordi Cruyff available
 in reserve and Roy Keane out, is that United have strength in depth.

But Ferguson does not want to test that through unneeded suspensions - and that
 made the restraint showed by his players almost as praiseworthy as their
 clinical win.

Although it was the attacks on Gary Neville and Denis Irwin by Julio Cruz and
 Paul Bosvelt which were most serious, there was one spell in the second half
 when Beckham, Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham were all victims of vicious
 tackles in the space of 30 seconds.

Two moments of creativity from Feyenoord could, however, have offered United a
 much sterner test than they eventually experienced.

After 20 minutes Igor Korneev stroked a lovely ball to Giovanni Van Bronckhorst
 but he chose to shoot when Cruz was better placed. Then, two minutes later,
 Gary Neville got himself in a spot of bother and conceded possession to wing
 back Patricio Graff who quickly played an exquisite one-two with Korneev before
 holding off Neville splitting the defence with a pass which eventually found no
 takers.

United began to turn the tables when Kees Van Wonderen fluffed a clearance and
 Sheringham volleyed for the top corner only to see Polish goalkeeper Jurek
 Dudek produce a world-class save.

Drama on the pitch only equalled that of outside the ground when Neville pounced
 on a loose ball and launched it forward. Cole and Bernard Schuiteman were neck
 and neck like greyhounds, the Dutchman got a touch but as it left his boot,
 Cole caught it with his thigh and the ball looped over the goalkeeper for the
 striker's ninth goal in 10 games.

Then, just before half time, Beckham slid the ball to Sheringham. He had his
 back to goal but swivelled for a brilliant reverse pass which Beckham played
 straight to Cole and, a split second later, the ball was in the net.

If Ryan Giggs, the star of that pulsating win over Juventus, had showed the same
 cutting edge as Cole, United would have been 3-0 ahead 10 minutes after the
 break.

Pallister surged forward out of a tackle and clipped a pass which sent Giggs
 through on goal but his chip was too high.

However, Pallister continued the role he clearly yearns for by playing a
 wonderful one-two with Giggs deep in the Dutch half. The winger rounded
 goalkeeper Jurek Dudek and squared to Cole who gleefully and easily completed
 his hat-trick. Korneev's 87th minute goal was little consolation for Feyenoord.
            __________________________________________________________

   Cole-fired United strike rich seam
   
   FROM OLIVER HOLT, FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT
   IN ROTTERDAM
   
   Feyenoord ...1 Manchester United ...3
   
   WITH a performance as bright and as piercing as the laser beams that
   lit up the sky above the De Kuip Stadium, Andy Cole finally proved
   that he can excel at the highest level when he scored a hat-trick
   against Feyenoord here last night that all but guaranteed Manchester
   United a place in the quarter-finals of the European Cup.
   
   Cole, whose previous failings had led to suggestions that his presence
   is a hindrance to United's European ambitions, scored twice in the
   first half and once more later in the game to become the first player
   at the club since Denis Law in 1968 to score a hat-trick in this
   competition.
   
   The result provided yet more evidence that United, who coped
   efficiently with what little their Dutch hosts had to offer and
   consolidated their position above Juventus at the top of group B, are
   close to completing their education in the Champions' League. It was
   their second win over Feyenoord in two weeks  a happy piece of double
   Dutch.
   
   Cole took his tally to eight goals in the past three games but, more
   important, the result means that United now have only to complete the
   relative formality of victory over FC Kosice at Old Trafford in a
   fortnight to be sure of a place in the last eight of the competition,
   either as group winners or one of the two best runners-up. Having won
   four out of four so far, they are the only one of the 24 teams in the
   competition with a 100 per cent record.
   
   Some of the gloss from their win was taken away by a goal five minutes
   from the end by Igor Korneev, and by strong-arm tactics from the Dutch
   that left Gary Neville flattened by a flying elbow and Dennis Irwin
   taken from the field on a stretcher in agony with what Alex Ferguson
   said may be a serious knee injury.
   
   There were also allegations from the United camp that the Dutch
   players had spat at their rivals and that missiles were thrown at
   Peter Schmeichel. "I have never lost my temper like that before,"
   Neville, who was incensed by Cruz's challenge, said.
   
   Ferguson gave Cole due praise, but reserved most of his comments for
   the antics of Feyenoord, intimating that he did not want his players
   to swap shirts with their opponents after the game. "It is fortunate
   that no one else was injured," the United manager said. "Two of their
   players should have been sent off, but the referee was in a lenient
   mood. He has got a lot of experience and that is why the game did not
   get out of control. We had to show great discipline."
   
   The preamble to the match was also marred by violent clashes between
   rival fans. Some occurred as Feyenoord supporters ambushed the
   visiting supporters outside the ground, in apparent retaliation for
   United followers wrecking two cafés in the city centre. A coach
   carrying United supporters was also stoned and two Dutch policemen
   were hurt. Seventeen Dutch supporters and one from England were
   arrested, according to early reports.
   
   When the match started, the home supporters forgot their aggression
   momentarily as Feyenoord dominated the early stages. United spent much
   of the first 25 minutes penned in their own half as the Dutch strove
   to put behind them the domestic woes that saw them part company with
   their coach, Arie Haan, last week.
   
   Cruz, Feyenoord's Argentine striker, wriggled away from Berg in the
   first minute, but hit his shot over the crossbar. Ten minutes later,
   Bosvelt tricked his way past two United tackles and laid the ball out
   to Van Gobbel. He curled in an inviting cross, but Schmeichel gathered
   it before the Feyenoord strikers could capitalise.
   
   The Dutch wasted their best chance midway through the half, when Graff
   pounced on a poor ball from Neville, played a one-two and bore down on
   Schmeichel, but the Danish goalkeeper kept on his feet, Graff squeezed
   the ball wide of him and across goal, and the danger was cleared.
   
   That was the end of Feyenoord's dominance. A header by Beckham in the
   28th minute freed Sheringham and his dipping volley forced an
   acrobatic save out of Dudek. It was only a temporary reprieve. Two
   minutes later, United took the lead.
   
   After Graff had fallen awkwardly, Neville struck a searching long ball
   forward for Cole to run onto. He outstripped Schuiteman, and as the
   defender stretched to reach it, the ball looped over Dudek, who could
   only help it into the net. It was not clear whether Cole or Schuiteman
   had got the final touch, but the striker was quick to claim the
   credit.
   
   Three minutes before half-time, United went further ahead. Beckham
   played a neat one-two with Sheringham that sliced the Feyenoord
   defence apart, and Beckham crossed for Cole  who television replays
   showed to be clearly onside  to sidefoot past Dudek.
   
   A minute after the interval, though, United were reminded that any
   complacency would be punished. Feyenoord were awarded a free kick on
   the edge of the area and Van Gastel crashed a 25-yard, left-foot shot
   beyond the dive of Schmeichel but against the underside of the United
   crossbar.
   
   United should have put the game out of the reach nine minutes later,
   when Pallister played a fine through-ball to Giggs. He galloped clear
   of the Dutch defence on its exposed right flank, but after a couple of
   feints to try to trick Dudek, he chipped his shot over the goalkeeper
   but a foot over the crossbar, too.
   
   Seventeen minutes from the end, though, Pallister made a rare foray
   forward and played a fine ball through to Giggs with the outside of
   his right foot. His pace got him to the ball before the dive of Dudek
   and he squared the ball across the area to where Cole was waiting to
   sidefoot the ball into an empty net. Cole strode over to the United
   fans and milked their thunderous applause.
   
   FEYENOORD (4-4-2): J Dudek  U van Gobbel, B Schuiteman, J P van
   Gastel, K van Wonderen  P Bosvelt, G van Bronckhorst, G Boateng, P
   Graff (sub: G Claeys, 34min)  J Cruz (sub: H Vos, 75), I Korneev.
   
   MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): P Schmeichel  G Neville, G Pallister, H
   Berg, D Irwin (sub: P Neville, 80)  D Beckham, N Butt, P Scholes (sub:
   K Poborsky, 75), R Giggs  A Cole (sub: O G Solskjaer, 75), E
   Sheringham.
   
   Referee: S Puhl (Hungary).

   Copyright 1997 The Times Newspapers Limited.
            __________________________________________________________
          
Feyenoord v Manchester Utd
By Martin Lipton PA Sport, Rotterdam

Andy Cole's glorious goal glut continued as United moved a step closer to
the last eight of the Champions' League in trouble hit Rotterdam tonight.
The England striker has been the butt of much humour since his £7million
move from Newcastle.

But now the goals are coming in droves and Cole claimed two tonight to make
it seven in his last three games. The first, after 31 minutes, was somewhat
fortunate as he chased Gary Neville's long ball.

As Bernard Schuiteman tried to clear the ball rebounded off off Cole's knee
to loop over keeper Jurk Dudek. The second, however ,was sheer quality with
Cole on the end of a wonderful move started by Teddy Sheringham and carried
on by David Beckham leaving the striker the easiest of side-foot finishes.

Alex Ferguson for once opted for the expected when he sent his team back
into European combat in Rotterdam tonight. The pre-match feeling had been
that Denis Irwin and Ryan Giggs would return after missing Saturday's 6-1
trouncing of Sheffield Wednesday, with Phil Neville and Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer standing down and that was exactly what happened when the United
boss named his team tonight.

It meant there was just one change in the United side from the team which
beat Feyenoord at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, Norwegian Henning Berg
coming in for the younger Neville. By contrast Feyenoord, who have lost
coach Arie Haan in the past two weeks, made three changes from the team on
duty in the first meeting. Argentinian striker Julio Cruz, suspended two
weeks ago, came in for injured Irish international David Connolly up front
with Russian Igor Korneev replacing another Argentine, Pablo Sanchez.

Uruguayan defender Fernando Picun also stepped down to the bench, replaced
by George Boateng. But surprisingly new coach Geert Meijer opted to keep
Old Trafford scorer Henk Vos among the substitutes.

After three successive wins United stood proudly at the top of Champions'
League Group B although Ferguson took pains to warn his players to expect a
more difficult encounter than in the first game when they could easily have
won by far more than they did. The one thing that England as a whole did
not want after the scenes in Rome last month was more violence but the
worst fears of the Football Association appeared to be borne out with
incidents both inside and outside the ground before kick-off. Coaches of
United fans were stoned by home supporters and just before kick-off a
serious disturbance broke out in one corner of the ground. Only the
flimsiest of canvas partitions separated the United supporters from the
home fans and when the gateway in that fence was opened the supporters
surged through it to clash. It appeared that the home fans were the
aggressors but it took a full five minutes for riot police to respond and
restore order.

Fortunately the teams then emerged to attract attention elsewhere although
the opening stages were less than eventful. Beckham, Sheringham and Cole
did threaten when they combined in the third minute although Cole was
crowded out as he shaped to shoot. At the other end the Dutch side were
making few early inroads as Gary Pallister - along with Irwin a survivor of
United's Cup Winners' Cup final triumph over Barcelona here in 1991, - was
his normal reassuring self. In the 11th minute former Southampton defender
Ulrich Van Gobbel advanced into space down the United left but his low
cross was easily gathered by skipper Peter Schmeichel. Ferguson had
suggested yesterday that his team had realised the need for patience in
European matches and certainly their approach to the game was one of
containment-first.

United were happy to let Feyenoord play in front of them, breaking up their
opponents when they got too close to Schmeichel's goal. The plan was
clearly to attempt to hit the Dutch side on the counter and a hint of what
United could do came in the 13th minute. Berg won the ball well 15 yards in
the United half and spotted Cole spinning out to the left. The ball landed
at the striker's feet but with Feyenoord stretched Giggs ran into Van
Gobbel and the opening went begging.

In fact, there was not a shot on goal until the 20th minute, when
Schmeichel easily fielded a left-footer from Giovanni Van Bronckhorst. A
minute later United threatened when Graff's clearance went straight to
David Beckham, who found Cole through the middle. It was not easy to bring
the ball down but Cole did manage that before shooting right footed from 20
yards although Dudek in the Feyenoord goal was not really troubled.

Now the game was beginning to open out and the presence of yet more riot
police between the rival fans appeared to be helping to ease the threat of
more problems. 

But problems on the pitch for United came when Gary Neville gave the ball
away to Graff in the 23rd minute. The Argentinian burst forward, working a
one-two with his compatriot Cruz and outpacing Neville only for his cross
to travel beyond Schmeichel and the far post. That might have been close
but United themselves were even closer five minutes later. Beckham headed
down and Kees van Wonderen made a fearful howler, missing the ball
completely. Sheringham was onto it like a shot, thumping an effort with the
outside of his right foot which was destined to finish in the top corner
only for Dudek to make a thrilling flying save. But three minutes later
Ferguson's side did take the lead as Cole's goal glut continued.

Neville hoisted the ball long from around halfway and defender Bernard
Schuiteman looked the favourite. Schuiteman attempted to hook clear but the
ball struck Cole's knee and looped over the advancing Dudek.  The Feyenoord
keeper threw up an arm and made contact but not enough to prevent the ball
spinning into his net, giving Cole his sixth goal in his last three games
to give United a priceless advantage.

United were delighted but Feyenoord furious, adamant that Beckham - accused
of foul play in the first game - had been guilty of an assault on Graff
which meant the Argentine had to be stretchered off and could take no
further part in the game.

It threatened to get nasty, a couple of ugly clashes in midfield showing
that the Dutch side were prepared to battle and bruise although Scholes and
Nicky Butt were clearly up for the fight. Graff was replaced by Belgian
Jeff Claeys and two minutes later United went to sleep at the back, Cruz
given too much space but unable to beat Schmeichel with his strike. Beckham
wasted one glorious crossing opportunity after Cole had split the final
defence. But two minutes before the break United were not so generous and
claimed a glorious, incisive and potentially killer goal.

Sheringham's angled ball found Beckham beyond the last defender and when he
squared Cole, barely six yards out, coolly sidefooted into the net with
Dudek helpless.

It could hardly be better for United and there was a jauntiness about their
stride as they went to the dressing room at half time. 

Van Bronckhorst came within inches of pulling Feyenoord into the game when
he rattled the crossbar with a 25-yard free-kick a minute after the
interval. Feyenoord substitute Claeys became the third player to be booked
when he entered referee Sandor Puhl's notebook in the 48th minute. The
match threatened to boil over and several crunching tackles rained in which
resulted in a United free-kick in the centre circle. Giggs should have
extended United's lead when after 54 minutes he was played through on the
left by Pallister, but the Welshman lifted the ball over the on-rushing
Dudek and over the bar. Cole completed his hat-trick after Giggs rounded
Dudek and squared the ball for the unmarked striker to tap the ball home in
the 73rd minute.

Korneev scored a consolation goal for Feyenoord three minutes from time
when he turned on the edge of the area and beat Schmeichel with a low shot
into the bottom corner of the net.
            __________________________________________________________

FERGIE: FEYENOORD COACH 'INSANE'

By Martin Lipton, PA Sport Chief Soccer Writer, Rotterdam

Furious Alex Ferguson branded opposite number Geert Meijer "insane" as a
United glory night in Rotterdam was overshadowed by thuggish Feyenoord and a
major injury for Denis Irwin.

Andy Cole's superb hat trick ensured United maintained their 100 per cent
start to their Group B campaign as they completed an assured and top quality
3-1 win over the Dutch side at a trouble-hit De Kuip Stadium.

But Ferguson's pleasure at his team's display was overshadowed by the anger
at the physical punishment his men had been forced to endure.

High late and appalling tackles proliferated the match with the worst
incidents being an elbow to the face suffered by Gary Neville from
Argentinian striker Julio Cruz and an assault on Irwin's knee by Paul Bosvelt.

Ferguson fumed: "It could be a bad injury for Denis and we'll have to take
him to hospital to see the specialist.

"But I'm just happy we didn't get any more people seriously injured because
it could easily have happened that way.

"The referee is experienced and he never let the game get out of control but
they should have had a couple of red cards at least."

Bosvelt, amazingly, was not even cautioned by Hungarian Sandor Puhl and
Ferguson was involved in a fierce touchline blast at his opposite number.

"That was a bad tackle to make and I couldn't believe their player didn't
get booked," said Ferguson, who branded Bosvelt's tackle "a disgrace" during
an angry words with Meijer on the touchline.

"I spoke to Meijer and he referred to the first game at Old Trafford and the
tackle that David Beckham made that meant Giovanni Van Bronckhorst was taken
off.

"But that is insane thinking, a very silly thing to say. If you are a coach
you have to have some principles."

Meijer responded to Ferguson's charge by admitting that he had taken off
Cruz and Bosvelt to prevent them seeing red although he added: "It's the
referee's job to decide if players should be sent off.

"Ferguson was upset but there were two or three incidents in the last game
at Old Trafford when their players should have had cards. 

"If you're looking to compare what happens on the pitch you can do that and
you can always see it from both sides but I don't want to respond to
anything else he has said."

Ferguson, however, was delighted by the discipline his side had shown in the
face of the appalling provocation which was also matched off the field with
Dutch riot police seemingly failing in their duties to keep feuding fans apart.

Despite all the aggravation only Paul Scholes was booked for United and
Ferguson admitted: "I think our discipline was great in the light of what
went on.

"It was a great result for us and I'm very pleased with the result and the
performance especially in the second half when we controlled ourselves so well.

"We are in a great position now and that is just what we wanted from the game."

Sadly Cole's performance will not get the credit it deserved but Ferguson
was keen to allow the striker some glory.

Cole's first was somewhat fortuitous, his right knee diverting an attempted
clearance from Bernard Schuiteman over keeper Jurek Dudek and into the net.

There was nothing lucky about the other two, simple side foot finishes at
the end of rapier-like United moves and Ferguson added: "Andy was always a
real threat to them.

"Every time we played a through pass up to his he was like a greyhound
coming out of the traps."

The hat trick, Cole's second in Europe after a trio for Newcastle against
Antwerp three years ago, made it eight in his last three games and Ferguson
continued: "I think strikers always respond to confidence.

"When they're scoring they think they're always going to score and if
they're not they wonder where the next goal is coming from.

"But Andy is playing so well now and he's really on fire for us."
            __________________________________________________________

MANCHESTER UTD PLAYER RATINGS

   Peter Schmeichel: Did not have the busiest night and could do little
   about Korneev's goal (7).
   
   Gary Neville: Took an elbow from Cruz but refused to be rattled and
   was as solid as ever (7).
   
   Denis Irwin: Did everything asked of him before being stretchered off
   after he was clobbered by Bosvelt (7).
   
   Gary Pallister: Tower of strength at the heart of the United defence
   but also showed his finer touches when he played the ball neatly out
   of defence (7).
   
   Henning Berg: Another impressive display from the Norwegian alongside
   Pallister (7).
   
   David Beckham: Played the ball through for Cole's first goal and also
   tracked back to help out his defence (8).
   
   Nicky Butt: Typically tigerish in midfield and never let Feyenoord get
   going (7).
   
   Paul Scholes: Got booked but kept his head afterwards and was as solid
   as ever (7).
   
   Ryan Giggs: Missed one chance but otherwise it was another super show
   from the Welshman (8).
   
   Teddy Sheringham: Linked well with Beckham for Cole's second goal but
   otherwise was not that busy (7).
   
   Andy Cole: Continued his rich vein of goalscoring form to prove he is
   back to his prolific best (9).
   
   Substitutes
   
   Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Cole, 76): Did not really get into the match
   after coming on (6).
   
   Karel Poborsky (Scholes, 76): Did not make much impression when he
   came on (6).
   
   Phil Neville (Irwin, 81): Slotted in at full back but had little time
   to shine (6).
   
   © PA Sporting Life


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