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Cole salvages United pride
By Colin Malam | |
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Man Utd (0) 1 Bolton (0) 1 ANDY COLE saved the day for Manchester United yesterday. The England striker's late equaliser not only rescued the Premiership leaders from yet another damaging defeat, but made sure the 40th anniversay of the Munich air disaster was not marred by embarrassment on the field. United have lost three of their last five league games, and the loss of form which has accounted for that poor run was again evident here. Yet they deserved to win this match on the strength of a quite breath-taking grandstand finish. Both Cole and Gary Neville hit the woodwork as United swarmed around Bolton's goal. They need not have been quite so desperate, however, because once again results elsewhere went very much in their favour. With two of their nearest challengers, Blackburn and Liverpool, losing at home United actually increased their lead at the top of the Premiership to five points. Only Chelsea, who play Arsenal at Highbury today, can now make a dent in it. It could not have been easy for the teams to concentrate on the match following the moving ceremony of remembrance which had preceded the kick-off, which was delayed until 3.15pm so that a minute's silence could be observed - and impeccably so - at 3.04pm, the exact time of the disaster. The teams had been led out by United director Sir Bobby Charlton, a survivor of Munich, and Nat Lofthouse, Bolton's president, who lay wreathes in the centre circle on behalf of both clubs. Other wreaths were laid by representatives of the supporters of both clubs, the Munich families, UEFA, the Professional Footballers' Association and Red Star Belgrade, the club United had just played in the European Cup prior to the crash. Understandably, perhaps, United seemed more distracted by the occasion than Bolton. Although they began with a flourish, Teddy Sheringham flicking a volley against the near post from a centre by Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, they soon began to be betrayed by the squandering of possession and defensive uncertainty that have cut their lead at the top of the Premiership of late. Peter Schmeichel had to make one of his very best saves to stop Nathan Blake scoring for Bolton when Per Frandsen put the striker clean through. Then Bob Taylor and Frandsen might easily have scored with headers from the accurate centres of Scott Sellars as Gary Pallister struggled, unusually, to win the aerial battles. Pallister was not helped, in that respect, by Alex Ferguson's strange decision to play the diminutive Gary Neville, and not the taller Henning Berg, as a replacement for the injured Ronny Johnsen in central defence. United also missed the ball-winning qualities of the suspended Nicky Butt in midfield. United's main hope of salvation always seemed to lie with Cole, who was in prime form as the spearhead of a three-man attack. Whether it was making space for himself cleverly in a crowded penalty area or forcing defenders into error, Cole terrorised Bolton throughout the first half. He had four shots at goal in all. One fizzed just wide of a post, one was saved low down by Keith Branagan, the Bolton goalkeeper, one whistled inches over the crossbar and one was beaten away by the leaping Branagan. Cole also provided the pass from which Ryan Giggs compelled Branagan to make yet another save. Giggs, a member of United's three-man midfield, was also quite lively. It was from his centre that David Beckham wasted a clear chance by shooting weakly and wide with his left foot. Whatever Ferguson had to say to his troops during the interval, it did not have the required effect on this occasion. Indeed, Bolton might have scored twice before they actually took the lead on the hour with a very curious goal. Taylor, playing his final game on loan from West Bromwich Albion, scored while lying on the ground following a collision between him and Schmeichel as they both went for a low centre from the right by Jamie Pollock. The ball squirted out behind them to Gary Neville, who seemed to have plenty of time to clear until Taylor suddenly stuck out a leg. It was Taylor's third bite at the cherry. He had already been presented with two clear scoring chances as Bolton continued to penetrate United's defence almost at will. In the first instance the Bolton striker took too long to control the ball after a clearance by Schmeichel, sold short by Pallister's back pass which cannoned off Blake. A few minutes later, Taylor volleyed over the crossbar as he stretched to reach the centre from the left with which Blake found him running unmarked at goal. Cole did his level best to repair the damage, but a volley from a Solskjaer knock-down went over the crossbar and then Branagan saved with his legs when the United striker got clean through. United sent on Berg for Sheringham after 68 minutes and re-grouped into a much more effective formation. It enabled them to launch an all-out assault in which Gary Neville might have scored twice and Cole umpteen times. Cole hit the inside of a post with a header from a Beckham cross and Neville hammered a shot against the crossbar. In between, Cole headed United level after Branagan and one of his defenders made a complete mess of a centre from the right. _______________________________________________________________________ February 8 1998 FOOTBALL Cole strike foils brave Bolton bid Joe Lovejoy at Old Trafford Manchester United 1 Bolton Wanderers 1 ALEX FERGUSON had called on his players for an "appropriate" performance on the day United marked the 40th anniversary of the Munich air crash. A last-gasp equaliser against relegation candidates was not what he had in mind. The champions have just one win and four points from five games, and this should have been a result to blow the title race wide open. Blackburn and Liverpool failed to take advantage, but it still could be, if Chelsea can beat Arsenal at Highbury today. For Bolton, a battling draw will bolster their belief that they can stay in the Premier League. It should also enhance Bob Taylor's chance of a permanent move into the top division. The 31-year-old striker, playing the last game of his loan period from West Bromwich Albion, thought he had won it when he nudged the ball past Peter Schmeichel from a prone position on the goal-line. Instead, a hampered punch by the Bolton goalkeeper, Keith Branagan, presented Andy Cole with a headed equaliser with five minutes left. Blessed relief for Cole, who had spurned a hatful of chances. United were again well below their best, yet still created a dozen good goalscoring opportunities, and were tantalisingly close to winning it in a frantic finale, during which Gary Neville hit the crossbar. "I thought we deserved to win it overall," Ferguson said. "They deserved to take the lead, but we could have scored five in the last 20 minutes." True enough, but United's play lacked the style which had everyone eulogising their quality earlier this season. On recent evidence the title is hardly a foregone conclusion. It was difficult, after all the emotions of the pre-match ritual, but eventually everyone managed to concentrate on the football. Ceremonies may have been the order of the day, but the players were not about to stand on them, and went at it hammer and tongs from the start. Both teams might have scored before the game was four minutes old. The guests of honour were still taking their seats when Giggs sent Solskjaer away on the left, from where his short centre was volleyed against the near post by Sheringham. Bolton's response was immediate, Frandsen's through pass inviting Blake to fire in a strong shot from the inside-right channel which forced Schmeichel to improvise a save with his legs. Taylor headed over from Sellars' left-wing cross, and for the first ten minutes or so the ebb and flow of a competitive derby held out the promise of a real treat for the distinguished guests. The promise was to go unfulfilled. It was no classic. Frandsen, making incisive incursions from deep, was allowed a free header at another cross from Sellars. With Gary Neville filling in at centre-half, United were literally short at the back. Schmeichel was the busier keeper during the opening exchanges, when the champions missed a Butt or Keane in the holding role in front of the back four. Gradually, however, they began to create good chances. Solskjaer set up Cole on the edge of the penalty area, but the resurgent striker shot straight at Branagan. Todd's mistake then let him in again, but Cole's finish was poor. That was to be the way of it. Giggs drove the ball into Branagan's midriff, Beckham shot wide and when Cole was finally on target he was thwarted by a smart save. Both teams conceded possession too easily for the satisfaction of their managers or an increasingly frustrated crowd. For a side in Bolton's position, the fault was no major surprise, but United have high standards to maintain and are falling below them. With United out of sorts, Bolton began to assert themselves, and should have taken the lead when Taylor volleyed over from Blake's cross. United's reprieve was temporary. With an hour gone, Pollock crossed from the right touchline and when Schmeichel and Taylor collided on the goal-line the ball ran loose. Schmeichel and Gary Neville seemed joint favourites to deal with it, but Taylor, lying on the ground, got his foot there first and nudged in his first Premier League goal. United reshuffled and improved considerably, but Cole volleyed over from Solskjaer's knock-down, then shot against Branagan's legs. Taylor might have made it safe for Bolton, but headed negligently over from Sellars' cross. With United cranking up the pressure, it was to prove a costly miss. Cole headed against a post and Gary Neville was agonisingly close. Then, with five minutes remaining, Todd baulked his own keeper and Branagan's mis-hit attempt at a punched clearance fell obligingly for Cole to score with a plunging header. After that, it was all United, who might have won it when Neville shivered the crossbar. It was another below par performance by the champions, but they still increased their lead at the top to five points. A Chelsea win today would close the gap to two. Manchester United: Schmeichel, Irwin, G Neville, Johnsen, P Neville, Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Sheringham, Solskjaer, Cole. Scorer: Cole 85. Substitutes: Sheringham (Berg 68min). Bolton Wanderers: Branagan, Cox, Todd, Bergsson, Phillips, Fairclough Pollock, Frandsen, Sellars, Thopmson, Blake, Taylor. Scorer: Taylor 60. Substitutes: Taylor (Holdsworth 82min) Bookings: Sheringham (10min), Thompson (54min), Bergsson (66min), Pallister (79min), Berg (89min). Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley). Attendance: 55,156. Copyright 1998 The Times Newspapers Limited. _____________________________________________________________________ February 8 1998 FOOTBALL Football pays silent tribute to Busby Babes THE TEARS were as sincere as those shed 40 years ago, as Old Trafford remembered the victims of the Munich air disaster of February 6, 1958, writes Jim Munro, football editor. The start of Manchester United's home game with Bolton Wanderers was delayed by 15 minutes to allow for a special tribute on the anniversary of a crash that ripped the heart out of United's team - dubbed the Busby Babes - of which eight players lost their lives. A laying of wreaths in the centre-circle by representatives of the families of those who died, the club and various football officials, was followed by a minute's silence at 3.04pm, the exact time at which the British European Airways Elizabethan aircraft crashed on a third-attempted take-off, killing 23 people. On this emotional day, Bolton were the ideal opponents. It was they that United played in their final game at Old Trafford before the crash, when Bobby Charlton scored a hat-trick in a 7-2 win. Countless comparisons have been drawn between the Babes of the Busby era and Alex Ferguson's fledglings, but as the modern-day side bowed their heads and linked arms, paying their respects to the legendary team that included the likes of Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor, there was time to reflect that both squads have been equally as magnificent in their own generations. Within three months of the disaster, it was Bolton who defeated United 2-0 at Wembley in the 1958 FA Cup final, and Nat Lofthouse, scorer of Bolton's goals that day and now club president, was the last to lay a wreath after the minute's silence had been observed impeccably by a respectful crowd of 55,156. The fates however were less sympathetic. United, by their standards, had suffered a poor run in the league of late, three defeats in four matches seen as more of an inconvenience than a sign of fading championship pedigree. On a day that should have seen a return to form against a team without a win in nine matches, Old Trafford was stunned after an hour of play when Peter Schmeichel, United's goalkeeper, got in a tangle with Bob Taylor, the Bolton forward, who appeared to get the deftest of touches on the ball to give the visiting team the lead. The Bolton defence then withstood a frantic onslaught as United attempted to save face and valuable championship points, and with five minutes remaining, Andy Cole put his head bravely among some Bolton boot studs to head an equaliser. A 1-1 draw may have been disappointing for the home fans, but it is fast becoming the season of missed opportunity. While United were dropping points, Blackburn and Liverpool, in third and fourth places respectively at start of play, both stumbled dramatically on their own doorsteps. Blackburn were hammered 3-0 by Tottenham, for whom Nicola Berti scored his first goal since joining Spurs on a free transfer from Internazionale in January, while Liverpool suffered the ignominy of a 3-2 defeat by Southampton at Anfield. Copyright 1998 The Times Newspapers Limited. _____________________________________________________________________ February 8 1998 FOOTBALL Joe Lovejoy on the moving tributes to the Busby Babes who were killed in the snows of Munich airport 40 years ago Tears fill Theatre of Dreams THE WALK up Matt Busby Way was a poignant one yesterday, fans much too young to remember laying flowers at the base of the great man's statue and pausing in silent contemplation to look up at the memorial clock which bears the legend February 6, 1958 - the day the word Munich was engraved in the dictionary of disaster. Inside Old Trafford, Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers was preceded by a brief, intensely moving ceremony, at the end of which there was scarcely a dry eye in the house. Forty years ago, the youngest team ever to win the League championship (hence the "Busby Babes") perished on an icy runway at Munich airport during their return from a successful European Cup trip to Belgrade, and in those different, less adversarial days, a nation mourned. The forerunners of Alex Ferguson's all-conquering United teams were chasing their third successive League title, and the previous Saturday had scored five at Arsenal in a coruscating match. They were through to the fifth round of the FA Cup, the semi-finals of the European Cup, and good judges believed a clean sweep was not beyond Busby's "team of all the talents", in which the peerless Duncan Edwards shone brightest of all. Precociously gifted, Edwards was 21 at the time, and had already been an England regular for three years. Had he lived, Bobby Moore may well have got no further than the bench in 1966, "Big Duncan" was that good. Instead, the player Busby always bracketted with George Best as his two finest discoveries was cut down when he had barely reached maturity, let alone his prime. Tragically, he was one among many. An abortive take-off in the Munich snows claimed the lives of Roger Byrne, Geoff Bent, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Liam (Billy) Whelan, Eddie Colman and Tommy Taylor, all killed instantly. The club secretary, Walter Crickmer, first team trainer Tom Curry and coach Bert Whalley also died. Edwards fought for a fortnight before succumbing to his injuries. Their memory was honoured in a service at Manchester Cathedral on Friday, and further tributes were paid yesterday, when observers in the Press box were reminded that some of the finest sportswriters of their generation were among the 23 who perished. Pride of place on this most sombre of occasions went to some of the survivors and families of the bereaved who filed on to the pitch, misty eyed. Heaven knows what ghastly memories seared their minds. Their club, often accused of brazen commercialism, demonstrated that a good heart lies beneath all that filthy lucre. The turnstiles were closed at 3pm lest there should be any unwanted interruption of a minute's silence - a thoughtful precaution which helped to produce the desired effect. Nothing stirred, the hush observed impeccably at precisely 3.04pm - the time of the crash. The emotion was near-tangible, and close to overflowing, as Bobby Charlton, who survived the crash, marched out at the head of the United team, to lay a wreath in the centre-circle. Nat Lofthouse, the former player turned president of Bolton, followed suit on behalf of his club, calling to mind the fact that they provided the opposition when, within three months of the tragedy, a United team running on neat emotion, reached the FA Cup final, losing 2-0. Lofthouse scored both of the goals. In all, eight wreaths were laid - one for each of the players who perished. Roger Byrne, son of the England full-back of the same name who was among those killed, laid one for the families, and there was warm applause as Vladimir Popovic, of Red Star Belgrade's 1958 team, stepped forward to do his duty, but not even the cheer for Andy Cole's equaliser matched their beloved Bobby's reception. When the public address called Charlton forward, his old comrades must have heard the din up in Valhalla. For 15 minutes, the "Theatre of Dreams" became a shrine, the occasion so solemn, so emotive, that for a long time it was impossible to concentrate on the football that followed. Gary Neville, United's defender, said: "We went to the service at the Cathedral, and it was very emotional. What happened out there before the game touched all of us deeply." Copyright 1998 The Times Newspapers Limited. _____________________________________________________________________ Saturday February 7 2:32 PM EDT Soccer showcase-Late Cole goal saves a point for United (Adds details) By Mike Collett MANCHESTER, England, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Manchester United salvaged a point with a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Bolton Wanderers when Andy Cole equalised five minutes from time at Old Trafford on Saturday. United, who had lost two of their previous three English premier league matches and were beaten 1-0 at home by Leicester last week, looked set to crash again before Cole headed home after a period of intense pressure by the league leaders. United's luck turned when Bolton goalkeeper Keith Branagan's clearance bounced off one of his own players and Cole leaped to score. Minutes earlier he had headed against a post, and in injury time Gary Neville hit the bar, but Bolton survived to take a point when at one time it looked as though they would be making the short journey home with all three. Bolton took the lead after 60 minutes when Jamie Pollock broke clear in space on the right and whipped the ball into the United six-yard box. Striker Bob Taylor, on loan from West Bromwich and looking for a permanent move to Wanderers, challenged for the ball but appeared to have lost his chance as United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and Gary Neville tried to smother his effort. But the ball suddenly came bouncing out of the melee of players and bounced over the goal-line to put the visitors ahead. The events surrounding the 40th anniversary of the Munich air disaster which included a short ceremony and a minute's silence before the kick-off appeared to have had a stifling affect on United. Apart from the odd piece of inspired play from Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes, United were largely unimpressive until the closing stages. Instead of looking like champions-elect they looked like a team lacking confidence and cohesion following their recent poor run. It might all have been very different if they had gone ahead in only the second minute when Teddy Sheringham smacked a close-range volley against a post. From the break Bolton had a very good chance to take a shock lead but Nathan Blake's shot was smothered by Schmeichel's legs. The visitors, while never as stylish as their more glamorous near-neighbours, nevertheless battled for everything in midfield with Per Frandsen and Jamie Pollock matching the likes of Giggs and David Beckham stride for stride, kick for kick. But even when United did take control, mistakes and poor finishing let them down. On one occasion Bolton's Andy Todd headed a loose ball up in the air inside his own penalty area, only for Cole to loop the ball over the bar from eight metres out. Beckham ended an excellent United build-up with a left-foot shot that shaved the post after 27 minutes and Cole went close again in the 69th minute, showing a dazzling turn of pace in the box, only to see his powerful drive blocked by Branagan and cleared by Frandsen. Branagan stopped a point-blank shot from Cole in the dying minutes, Cole headed against a post and Giggs went close with a header, but just when it appeared Bolton had done enough to hold out for an unlikely win, Cole finally struck. __________________________________________________________________________ Saturday February 7 4:10 PM EDT Chasing pack looking United gift horse in the mouth By Dave Thompson LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The gift horse provided courtesy of Manchester United is being prodigally looked in the mouth. One point out of a possible nine and just one goal in United's last three premier league games leaves the door to the title wide open. But the chasing pack has faltered just as badly as the champions. With Blackburn and Liverpool both losing at home on Saturday, United actually increased their lead after scrambling a 1-1 draw at home to bottom but one club Bolton. Second placed Chelsea can take advantage if they win at Arsenal on Sunday but that is a tall order. Like the rest of the population, United manager Alex Ferguson would have been unprepared for Tottenham winning 3-0 at Blackburn on Saturday. Rarely has the north London club been at such a low ebb -- down and out in the cup, Juergen Klinsmann injured and out for at least three weeks, and heavily tipped for relegation. Remarkably, the worthy but unassuming northern town of Clitheroe proved the catalyst for Saturday's dramatic change-round in the fortunes of Tottenham whose previous 12 away league games had yielded just eight goals. Rather than head home after Wednesday's 3-1 cup defeat at league bottom side Barnsley, the club stayed north -- and talked to each other. Swiss coach Christian Gross, a man under pressure if ever there was one, said: ``Our preparation was excellent. It was good that we were together. We discussed things between us and you saw the reaction.'' Tottenham, 26 points from 25 games, moved out of the bottom three, three points clear of the danger zone but Gross knows a long, hard road winds ahead. He warned: ``Now it begins. It has been a hard week for us but every new game you have another chance to prove what you can do.'' ``We were very compact, everyone fought for each other,'' the coach added. ``That's what we have to do. There are another 13 battles in front of us now.'' Chris Armstrong, back in the side in the absence of Klinsmann, obliged with the Tottenham second goal and then echoed his boss. ``This is the basis for us to go on for the rest of the season,'' he said. The way forward for Blackburn is clear in the mind of manager Roy Hodgson. He said: ``Now it means we have to go to teams where we would normally be happy to draw and look for a win.'' Liverpool manager Roy Evans was equally disappointed as he reflected on the 3-2 home defeat by Southampton. ``We tried to attack and win the game...but while you are attacking you have to make sure you defend and we did not do that.'' ___________________________________________________________________________ Saturday February 7 1:19 PM EDT Soccer showcase-Eight wreaths for dead Busby Babes By Mike Collett MANCHESTER, England, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Eight wreaths commemorating the Manchester United players who died in the Munich Air Disaster were laid at Old Trafford during a poignant memorial ceremony on Saturday. The short service, which included a minute's silence at 1504 GMT -- the actual time of the crash -- preceded United's English premier league match against Bolton, staged one day after the 40th anniversary of the disaster. The minute's silence was impeccably observed by the 50,000 plus crowd. allaying fears that Bolton fans, many of whom have a passionate hatred of United, would spoil the occasion. United players Roger Byrne, Geoff Bent, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, Billy Whelan and Duncan Edwards as well as 15 others all lost their lives after the plane carrying them back to England from a European Cup quarter-final in Belgrade, crashed on take-off after re-fuelling at Munich on February 6, 1958. On Saturday, Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the nine Busby Babes who survived the crash and Nat Lofthouse -- who scored Bolton's goals when they beat a patched-up United side 2-0 in the F.A. Cup Final three months later -- led the teams out for the match and also laid two of the wreaths. Vladimir Popovic, who played for Red Star Belgrade against United in their last match before the disaster, laid a wreath on behalf of his club, and received a huge ovation from the United supporters. Angel Villar Llona, of UEFA's Executive Committee, laid one on behalf of European soccer's governing body. Roger Byrne's son, also called Roger, laid a wreath on behalf of the families bereaved at Munich. Gordon Taylor of the English professional footballers association, and supporters representing United and Bolton laid the others. The ceremony at Old Trafford followed a memorial service held in Manchester Cathedral on Friday night before a specially-invited congregation of around 1,500. By special arrangement with the premier league, Saturday's match had a kickoff time of 1515 GMT rather than the usual 1500 GMT. ___________________________________________________________________________ Saturday, February 7, 1998 MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 BOLTON WANDERERS Cole (85) Taylor (60) The most fitting tribute Alex Ferguson would have desired to the memory of those who perished so tragically at Munich was a full scale demonstration of their renowned skills from the awesome talent which has established Manchester United as the masters of the modern era. The ever-demanding Ferguson, who has achieved so much in emulating the management genius of the legendary Sir Matt Busby at Old Trafford, expressed such a wish at the moving memorial service on Friday night inside a packed Manchester Cathedral to mark the 40th anniversary of the never-to-be-forgotten disaster which claimed the lives of eight United players. 'That team had courage, skill, spirit and perseverance,' said Ferguson. 'But their most outstanding characteristic was style.' It is that very commodity that Ferguson has imbued in the team which he himself has constructed with such painstaking attention to detail in a magnificent stadium which has become known as the Theatre of Dreams. Four championships in five years provides graphic testimony to the success of his efforts. And yet the style to which the modern-day United supporter has become so cosily accustomed to was to be inexplicably delayed until a final pulsating ten minutes. Until United hit the right gear the muttering among another huge Old Trafford audience was that a period of crisis had descended on the club. Crisis in purely footballing terms of course which pales into total insignificance on a day when the memory of lives lost and bodies maimed was so impeccably observed during a poignant minute of silence at 3.04pm, precisely the time when the plane carrying that celebrated collection of Busby babes had crashed in attempting take off from a slush-bound runway. Indeed, United were being seriously threatened by a fourth defeat in five games a sequence of results unprecedented in the modern era. And it had not been as though Bolton Wanderers were so irresitable. They had defended doggedly, it is true, and done their utmost to deny the United craftsmen the time and space in which to operate successfully. The harsh truth is that United were fitful and fumbling in their efforts with an uncharacteristic penchant for wasteful passing. It had all begun so brightly as well with Ryan Giggs and Ole Solskjaer combining well to provide Teddy Sheringham with an opportunity which he drove fiercely against the nearpost. Almost immediately Nathan Blake exploited a ponderous attempt at intervention by Gary Pallister to get in behind the United's defences and it required the outstretched legs of Peter Schmeichel to deny Bolton an unlikely early advantage. United were going from bad to worse when Bolton succeeded in claiming a not unexpected breakthrough in the 59th minute. Again it was almost a comedy of errors which allowed Bob Taylor to bring an unlikely smile to the faces of outnumbered supporters who had made the short journey in the confident expectancy of a further mauling to add to the 5-1 home defeat by Coventry the previous weekend. Jamie Pollock deserves credit for the cleverly delivered cross from the right and Taylor showed commendable courage in challenging the giant Schmeichel. When the ball squirmed free Gary Neville attempted to lend assistance but from his position on the floor Taylor stuck out a leg to divert the ball slowly over the line. Perhaps the reverse provided the perfect antidote to United's alarming lethargy. Certainly the prospect of facing the outraged Ferguson would not have been particularly appealing. Slowly, but surely, United got their act together and Bolton's defence endured a charmed life. Andy Cole shot against goalkeeper Keith Branagan and proceeded to strike the inside of the post with a bullet header from a particularly well-delivered cross from David Beckham. It was fitting then that United's most persistent striker should have been in a position to profit from a rush of rash goalkeeping by Branagan. With his penalty area under siege, Branagan elected to punch the latest in a stream of crosses from the flanks in the 85th minute and succeeded only in teeing up the ball for Cole to deposit the equaliser. United might even have elicited an unwarranted late winner but Gary Neville succeeded only in crashing a close-range opportunity against the crossbar. United can, of course, be thankful that no serious damage was inflicted on their continuing ambition to dominate the Premiership mainly because of timely, if unexpected, home defeats for close rivals Liverpool and Blackburn. At least on such a poignant day of remembrance of arguably the best team ever produced at the club it must be considered satisfactory that the modern day heroes were not forced to mark the occasion with a defeat. But it was certainly not achieved in the style that manager Ferguson intended. 'It was not a great performance from us in the first half,' admitted thew United manager. 'But in the second period we showed the kind of determination expected from a Manchester United team. 'It needed a goal to set the game alight. Once they scored our performance improved especially in the intensity of our passing and we could have scored five in the last 20 minutes. 'I think it was a difficult day for both sets of players. There was a lot of procedure to go through for our players in the ceremony before the match so it was difficult to take about the game. 'It is important for them to play themselves through this unsteady spell. Every team gets blips at some stage in the season. 'Let us just say that the season starts today as far as we are concerned.' _____________________________________________________________________ Saturday February 7 United stutter in silence By Paul Wilson Saturday February 7, 1998 Tony Cottee last Saturday, Bob Taylor this; it is beginning to look as if any old centre forward can score at Manchester United. The striker Leicester rescued from Malaysia cost United three points last week, and a first Premiership goal for a journeyman 30-year-old playing his final game on loan from West Brom threatened to cause similar embarrassment until Andy Cole's equaliser five minutes from the end. This was hardly the way United had hoped to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the Munich disaster, and though most of their rivals once again obliged by failing to close the gap, there was hope here for the chasers that the leaders might be catchable after all. "No disrespect to Bolton but we should be winning these games," Gary Neville said. "Teams still fear coming here, but they are going to get a bit of encouragement now." Alex Ferguson had warned his players that their football concentration must be total, after the sombre ceremonies of the last few days, and either it wasn't, or United have gone off the boil. Three defeats in the four league games prior to this suggest the latter, and though Ferguson had promised more commitment and a performance worthy of the memory of the Busby Babes, he was disappointed on both counts for all but the last 10 minutes. Bolton could not have co-operated more fully either. Their fans were as good as gold during the minute of silence, which despite fears of disturbance, passed off in perfect quiet as poignantly as Old Trafford could wish. Their defenders were less impressively disciplined, getting turned as early as the second minute and botching several clearances to present United with possession in dangerous areas. Yet the home side could not take advantage. They set off as if determined to reach double figures, as the pre-Munich side had once done against Anderlecht, and when Giggs played Solskjaer behind Bolton's defence on the left after little over a minute, Sheringham sidefooted the cross against Branagan's right upright. Before United had any time to take encouragement, however, a defence-splitting pass from the excellent Frandsen had given Blake an even better chance at the other end, and though Schmeichel was swiftly off his line to block the shot, the finish was not one of the Welshman's finest. Taylor and Thompson had further chances for the visitors, though most of the traffic was in the opposite direction with Cole lifting a shot over the bar after Todd's mistake had given him the ball in the area, then bringing a fine save from Branagan. The England striker was not at his most incisive, though he was not alone. None of Glenn Hoddle's selections shone, and Beckham and Sheringham were particularly off-key. Scholes' passing accuracy appeared unaffected by the general malaise, but United were not creating enough clear-cut chances for any of Cole's misses to be regarded as culpable. That changed in the second half, when Cole could and perhaps should have had a hat-trick, but by that stage United were chasing the game courtesy of Taylor's 61st minute strike. Schmeichel and Gary Neville between them appeared to have covered the danger, until the ball broke free and a prostrate Taylor was able to hook over the line for one of the more unusual goals of his career. United stepped up their efforts, and if Cole could have done better with a chance from Solskjaer's knock down in the 65th minute, he thought he had scored five minutes later only for Branagan to somehow save with his legs. Berg replaced Sheringham 20 minutes from the end, with Phil Neville pushing further forward, and though both Gary Neville and Cole had good chances in the final 10 minutes, Taylor could have put the issue beyond doubt had he been on target with a free header nine minutes from time. Reprieved, Cole headed one Beckham cross against a post before Branagan came and missed a second one, colliding with Todd and making a present of an equaliser. This was tough on Bolton, but they are used to it. In fact they could not really have complained had United snatched all the points in a six minute siege during injury time, when Solskjaer headed just over and Gary Neville crashed a shot against the bar. "We might have had a wee bit of luck, but it's the first time this season," Colin Todd said. United, according to their manager, will play themselves through this blip, though it sounds as if one or two might not be doing it at Wembley on Wednesday. "I'll look at that situation tomorrow," Ferguson said. "I'm not saying anything now and having you all go off and 'phone Glenn Hoddle." Guardian _____________________________________________________________________ Man United v Bolton 07/02/98 3.15 Man United (0) 1 Bolton (0) 1 FT Cole 85 Taylor 60 Andy Cole equalised six minutes from time to spare Manchester United's blushes against Bolton at Old Trafford as the champions drew 1-1 in the FA Carling Premiership. The champions were on course for what would have been their fourth league defeat in five matches after relegation-threatened Bolton took the lead through Bob Taylor. But United finally shook themselves from their slumbers and their pressure paid off when Cole bravely headed home his 21st goal of the season. United then laid siege to the Wanderers' goal and in the final minute Gary Neville crashed a shot off the woodwork. Before the delayed kick-off, the players and fans of both sides paid tribute to the victims of the Munich air crash on the day after the 40th anniversary of the disaster. Eight wreaths - one for each of the United players who died in the tragedy - were laid in the centre circle and a minute's silence was perfectly observed. United were keen to produce a good performance in their own tribute to the Busby Babes and the match exploded into life. In a frantic first two minutes Teddy Sheringham, making his first start in four weeks after fully recovering from his calf injury, hit the post, while Peter Schmeichel saved Nathan Blake's shot with his legs. On six minutes Cole turned and fired past the post before Taylor headed Scott Sellars' cross wide. Cole latched on to Andy Todd's poor back header on 18 minutes, but lifted his shot over the bar. Five minutes later, Cole set up Ryan Giggs outside the area only for him to shoot straight at Keith Branagan. Branagan produced a great save a minute later to keep out Cole's angled pile-driver and from the resultant corner he gathered a Sheringham effort. David Beckham then went agonisingly close with a shot from the edge of the area, which went just past the post. United were not firing on all cylinders and time after time the final ball was going astray. Without the suspended Nicky Butt in the middle of the park, Beckham and Giggs tucked in more, which left United short of width on the flanks. The crowd of 55,156 was exactly the same as watched United sink to their first home defeat against Leicester last Saturday. As half-time approached the match increasingly became littered with mistakes as move after move broke down. Gary Pallister nearly let in Blake with a weak back pass and as Schmeichel cleared the ball it came off the Bolton striker and fell to Taylor, but he failed to capitalise on the chance. On 57 minutes Taylor fired over from Blake's deep cross. But Bolton took the lead with a soft goal on the hour when Taylor challenged Schmeichel for Jamie Pollock's cross and as Gary Neville dithered, Taylor reacted quickest to stab home his first goal since joining Wanderers on loan from West Brom. United boss Alex Ferguson changed tactics when he replaced Sheringham with Henning Berg. Berg slotted into the heart of the defence while Phil Neville pushed into midfield as United switched from a 4-3-3 formation to a 4-4-2 line-up. The ploy almost worked straight away as Branagan produced a great save to deny Cole what looked like a certain equaliser. Just like last week, United went forward in search of an equaliser and on 80 minutes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Giggs went close. Two minutes later Gary Neville was left holding his head in his hands after he fired over from a great chance. Worse was to follow for United when Cole rose to connect with a header only to see the ball come off the inside of the post with Branagan beaten. But just as it seemed United would end the match with nothing, Cole headed home from close range to send the home fans wild. Man United: (4-3-3) Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Pallister, Beckham, Cole, Sheringham (Berg, 67), Giggs, P. Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer. Subs not used: McClair, Van Der Gouw, Clegg, Twiss. Booked: Sheringham, Pallister, Berg. Bolton: (4-4-2) Branagan, Cox, Thompson, Todd, Fairclough, Bergsson, Pollock, Sellars, Frandsen, Blake, Taylor (Holdsworth, 81). Subs not used: Ward, Johansen, Sheridan, Aljofree. Booked: Todd, Sellars, Bergsson. Attendance: 55,156. Referee: S J Lodge (Barnsley). ______________________________________________________________________ THAT'S AN ANDY POINT, SAYS FERGIE By David Anderson, PA Sport Alex Ferguson feels Manchester United's point from their derby with Bolton at Old Trafford could prove crucial in the title race. United were heading towards their fourth league defeat in five games, and second at home, until Andy Cole headed home his 21st goal of the season to equalise six minutes from time. The goal was the least the champions deserved for their efforts and they were cheered by the news that championship rivals Liverpool and Blackburn had lost at home. "That point today could be an important point for us," said United manager Ferguson. "We got something from the game which we have always been good at doing when we have been winning championships. "There will be a lot of points surrendered with five teams involved." United hit the woodwork three times and Ferguson claimed: "I felt we deserved to win with the performance in the last 20 minutes. "It was not a game of a lot of chances, but the better ones fell to us." Bolton boss Colin Todd was delighted with how well his side bounced back after their drubbing against Coventry last week. "They were humiliated last week 5-1 at home by Coventry so to come here and put on a performance like they have done is a credit to them," he said. "We may be had a little bit of luck but that's the first bit of luck we have had this season. "I am still optimistic that we will survive and the players are just bitterly disappointed that they have not come away with a win." Bob Taylor gave struggling Wanderers the lead on the hour with a goal on his last game before he returns to West Brom at the end of his month's loan. He was delighted to score his first Premiership goal at the age of 31. "I have ended my loan period today and what a place to end it!" he said. Taylor capitalised on a mistake by Gary Neville to score and the United and England defender was highly critical of his own performance. He felt he could have prevented Taylor's goal while he also missed two opportunities, including one which hit the woodwork. "We should have won comfortably but I look no further than myself," said Neville. "I had two great chances to score and it does not matter if you are a full back or a centre forward, you have got to put them away. "The best is expected of you as a Manchester United player and I did not produce in front of goal." Before the delayed kick-off, eight wreaths were laid in the centre circle and a minute's silence was observed in memory of the 23 victims on the 40th anniversary of the Munich air crash. United started slowly, but Neville refused to blame this on the commemoration. "We were all at the service last night and there were more commemorations today but we can't use that as an excuse," he said. © PA Sporting Life ______________________________________________________________________ FANS PAY THEIR TRIBUTES By David Anderson, PA Sport From far and wide they came to pay their respects to the team that died at Munich. Manchester United fans from all over the country, united in their desire to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the tragedy which robbed them and the country of such a young and talented side. Quietly and patiently they queued to write their messages in the book of condolence at Old Trafford. Others laid flowers underneath the statue of Sir Matt Busby at the Munich memorial, while at his feet was a single wreath composed of red and white flowers. A picture of the Busby Babes was pinned on the glass underneath along with personal tributes penned by supporters to express their grief and sorrow in their own individual ways. Fans, young and old, came and stood in silence as they remembered the eight United players and three officials who were among the 23 victims of the disaster on February 6, 1958. One tribute left with a bouquet of carnations summed up the feeling of the assembled supporters. It read: "To a team gone...but not forgotten." At 3pm Sir Bobby Charlton and Bolton president Nat Lofthouse led out the United and Wanderers teams. The players lined up on the field, where they were joined by the Munich families and members of the United and Bolton 1958 FA Cup Final teams. Eight wreaths - one for each of the players who perished - were then laid on the pitch, including one by Vladimir Popovic, who played for Red Star Belgrade against the Babes in their last match. The wreaths were later removed and placed at the Munich memorial. At 3.04pm, the exact time of the crash, a hush descended over the 55,000 crowd inside the Theatre of Dreams as they stood in silence for the victims of the disaster. There had been fears that some Bolton fans may disrupt the silence, but they all behaved impeccably. The players warmed up to the Manchester United Calypso, which was the 1950s anthem of the Busby Babes. Edward Aston, who travels up to games from his home in Cheltenham, has supported United since the tragedy and the day of the crash is etched on his memory forever. "I can remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the news," he said. "I was working in a factory, where I was a time clerk, when this chap from Bolton came up to me. He was weeping and when I asked him what was the matter, he told me what had happened. "I told him that maybe it was just a rumour, but five minutes later I found out that it was true and I felt terrible. "I shed a few tears that day." Aston cannot afford to come to every game, but there was no way he was going to miss today's commemorations. "I didn't want to miss this game for anything," he said. "I wanted to come and pay my respects and it is something which will never be forgotten." Peter Scallon from Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland is only 18, but he still appreciates the full tragedy of what happened on that snowy runway. He claims it has got nothing to do with age and the feeling is inside every true United supporter. "I know all about Munich because I've read about it in books and watched videos," he said. "It does not matter how old you are, it still affects you if you are a genuine fan. "They were just so young and Duncan Edwards was just 21 when he died. They were just such a great team and they will never be forgotten." Ann McMahon is a member of the Hertfordshire supporters club and she laid her own bunch of flowers underneath the statue of Sir Matt. The supporters club brought a wreath, but she wanted to pay her own tribute. McMahon is too young to remember the crash, but it still means a great deal to her. "Our branch has a wreath, but I just wanted to do this as well," she said. "I never saw the Busby Babes play and Bobby Charlton was the first player that I remember following. "Sir Matt is the person I must associate with the tragedy and it was so sad that so many of them died so young. "In many respects there are similarities with today's side in that they have several young players, who have grown up together as well." Lesley Ragg is also a member of the Hertfordshire supporters club and she said: "The tragedy is inside every supporter, young or old." Ray Seastram travelled across from Cardiff to be at today's game and he felt it was important to be here. "It was a terrible thing that happened," he said. "Today is such a special day and I just wanted to be part of it." © PA Sporting Life |
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