Manchester United Still Unbeaten

Dim­itar Berbatov

The Premier League game between Manchester City and Manchester United at The City of Manchester Sta­dium on Wed­nes­day was prob­ably the biggest game of the sea­son so far. Manchester United are now the only unbeaten side remain­ing in the top flight after the first goal­less draw in a Manchester Derby since back in Novem­ber 1991.

After spend­ing sev­eral years in the foot­balling doldrums, Manchester City have now become a main threat to Manchester United’s title hopes and the rivalry between the two clubs has reached new heights since Sheikh Man­sour took over at East­lands in 2008. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team had just one decent oppor­tun­ity in the first half as attack minded full back Patrice Evra shot at goal after an exhange with Ji-Sung Park Park, while Edwin van der Sar was put to the test once when he saved a free kick from Car­los Tevez ten minutes before the inter­val. Brazilian Rafael da Silva received a knock just four minutes into the second period and the full back was sub­sequently replaced by the exper­i­enced Wes Brown. Then after 57 minutes of play, Manchester United came close when a cross from Wes Brown was met by Dim­itar Ber­batov but his vol­ley flew straight at Joe Hart. The Manchester Reds then lost Patrice Evra in the 69 minute of the encounter due to a prob­lem with his left leg and Repub­lic of Ire­land inter­na­tional John O’Shea came on in his place. Ever­green Paul Scholes received a yel­low card last night and the vet­eran player will be sus­pen­ded for the upcom­ing away match against Aston Villa. Unfor­tu­nately, Welsh inter­na­tional Ryan Giggs missed his first Manchester Derby for nine­teen years due to a ham­string injury. Both Manchester City and Manchester United could have scored in the mid­week enounter at The City of Manchester Sta­dium that saw the pen­du­lum swing both ways in a closely con­tested match. Manchester City Start­ing Lineup:  Joe Hart, Jerome Boateng, Kolo Toure, Vin­cent Kom­pany, Pablo Zabaleta, Yaya Toure, Nigel De Jong, Gareth Barry, James Mil­ner, David Silva, Car­los Tevez. Manchester City Sub­sti­tutes: Adam John­son, Aleksandar Kolarov, Emmanuel Ade­bayor. Manchester United Start­ing Lineup: Edwin van der Sar, Rafael da Silva, Rio Ferdin­and, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Luis Nani, Dar­ren Fletcher, Michael Car­rick, Paul Scholes, Ji-Sung Park, Dim­itar Ber­batov. Manchester United Sub­sti­tutes: Wes Brown, John O’Shea, Javier Hernandez.

Manchester United Items