0 voters
Unused subs: Kelleher, Mane, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Tsimikas, Shaqiri, Origi, Phillips, N Williams
62’ Sadio MANE on, Gini WIJNALDUM off
82’ Xherdan SHAQIRI on, Thiago ALCANTERA off
82’ Divock ORIGI on, Roberto FIRMINO off
18’ Mohamed SALAH
59’ Mohamed SALAH
Defeated but not despondent.
A week after our tedious goalless draw against the same opponents in the league at Anfield, the Tricky Reds made three changes from that lineup- and five from the midweek debacle against Burnley- for the short trip to Salford to face the Dicky Reds in the cup. Henderson, Shaqiri and- perhaps surprisingly- Mané were missing compared to last weekend’s eleven and Rhys Williams, Curtis Jones and James Milner started in their stead.
The visitors started on the front foot and generally controlled the early stages without creating any serious chances and it was Alisson who had to make the first proper save, denying Greenwood with his right foot. We continued to run things and Bobby released Mo with a textbook slide rule pass in the eighteenth minute; Mo lifted the ball over the onrushing Dean Henderson and the visitors took a deserved lead.
Trent whipped a free kick narrowly over a few minutes later but our next attack saw Bobby dispossessed on the edge of the United box and Rashford’s long cross from deep scraped over Milner’s head and fell into Greenwood’s path. No mistake this time; a barely-deserved equaliser for the home team in the 26th minute.
Pogba headed over- completely unmarked- from Shaw’s corner as the home team started to come more into the game and McTominay did the same soon afterwards. Pogba then blasted a free kick over before McTominay had a shot from the edge of the area blocked. The expensive Frenchman curled a late effort narrowly wide after more excellent work by Rashford.
All of United’s good work was coming down our right; whether they were deliberately targeting Trent or it was mere coincidence will depend on Ole’s tactical acumen. Coincidence it was.
As the players trudged off for their halftime oranges, a draw was probably a fair reflection of how the first forty-five minutes had progressed. We were the better team until they equalised but they were generally in the ascendancy for the last fifteen minutes of the opening stanza.
Williams had had a few dodgy moments in the first half, over committing on occasion, and he was punished three minutes into the second half as his missed attempt to clear Greenwood’s raking pass was slotted home gratefully by Rashford.
Milner missed a glorious opportunity to equalise in the 57th minute, hooking over from close range, but Mo made amends seconds later, slotting the ball through Henderson’s legs to equalise from Firmino’s squared ball.
Jürgen decided to go for it, taking off Gini on the hour mark and replacing him with Sadio. Solskjaer brought on Fernandes and Fred five minutes later; essentially, the home side now had their first team on the pitch in an effort to snatch the victory.
Fabinho was duped into challenging Cavani on the edge of the box with thirteen minutes left and Fernandes rifled the ensuing free kick low into the far corner, beyond Alisson’s despairing dive. The free kick was soft, to say the least, but our normally brilliant keeper might have done better. Advantage Red Devils again.
Jürgen’s last fling of the dice was to throw on Shaq and Big Div for the tiring Thiago and Bobby. We huffed and puffed but it was Danny Trejo’s sidekick who came closest to scoring, planting a header against Alisson’s left hand post with the keeper rooted to the spot.
Pogba brought down Jones on the edge of the box in stoppage time; it was too wide for a direct shot on goal so Robbo lifted it to the far post. Pogba headed clear, straight to Salah… who volleyed wide.
All in all, an improved showing from the Reds tonight. Although it obviously hurts to lose to our biggest rivals, solace can be found in Mo’s return to goalscoring form and much improved performances from several of our players. Ultimately, we were undone by a Williams mistake, a dodgy free kick award and iffy positing from Alisson. Two of those we can improve; sadly, the refs are beyond our control.
Next up is a trip to North London to face the Spuds on Thursday night. We only just squeezed past them at Anfield thanks to Bobby’s late winner… a repeat performance in four days’ time would be most welcome. We desperately need to get back to winning ways in the league before the Manchester clubs get out of reach.
MOTM: Gordon Motion, master whisky maker at Highland Park distillery in the Orkney Islands. Got a bottle of their Cask Strength Release No 1 in preparation for Burns Night tomorrow and it is fabulous. Can’t wait to enjoy it with my haggis, neeps and tatties.
Positives… We scored twice…
/End.
Salah looked good. Improved in the second half all over. Scored two goals.
FSG have a look at that you tight cunts. Get us a centre half ffs.
Rhys is shocking. Ali was ropey today also. That right hand side of the back line needs sorted. Matip come back
Never good to lose to United but couldn’t care less about not winning the FA Cup. The only good thing about domestic cups is the opportunity to have a day out in Wembley. Without fans there this competition is even more pointless than usual.
At least we scored a couple and played better stuff, it wasn’t quite as painful to watch as it has been.
Probably the least emotion I’ve ever felt after a game vs the scum.
Feel a bit better after that. We competed well and it could have gone either way. Let’s see how the Spurs game goes…I think we might be up for that now…
Well I’m fucked right off.
It’s them cunts after all.
Thought we were poor at the back today even alisson.
But got to get used to losing games as we have no CBs. Fsg won’t buy one so more defeats incoming. That’s just the way it is. Vvd plays we win that game as fab would be in middle.
Better…mostly. TAA having a Glen Johnson season (and not the good kind). Milner in at RB next game please - might be more tame but will definitely shore up the right side. Soft FK (putting it mildly) but well taken.
Odds on City v Scum final - City playing no one decent until the semi and the Scum getting reffed through?
Did the team take a warm weather trip that I was not aware of?
On the whole, I don’t care about the FA cup, do not arsed we’re out.
But that was a good performance. The problem was they ruthlessly exploited Rhys Williams, and that’s why we play midfielders in defence in games that matter. Anyone who thinks we should play him in league games to get Fabinho in midfield is smoking crack.
Over all though, I am fucking sick of referees. I’ve just had enough. They are killing us. Cavani buys the cheapest free kick you will see. It’s nowhere near a fucking foul.
Every fucking game. Every fucking game it’s some new way to fucking screw us. What is the point anymore?
Hope City batter them. Snap that Bruno cunts legs
We really are the authors of our own downfall. All three goals came from our mistakes and we got punished. Cavani just used all his experience and suckered Fabinho into giving the free kick away. Mo had a chance to make it 3-2 but fluffed it.
Well… Mo and Bobby were not awful, and there were signs of the front three clicking again when Mane came on… Green shoots of recovery…?
Just want to see the end of the season now. Hate loosing to anyone but especially to these plus smug Linacre and Shearer.
A few positives from the game but still miss-firing overall. Will do Rhys’s confidence no good at all but we’ve got to remember the kid was playing non-league last season. Gave Mo MOM for his two goals.
Or cheated, as we might say. And the referee should be able to tell when that’s the case.
Bobby and Salah getting back in to the swing things, so that’s good.
Was dissapointed with Mane’s cameo. He came on, and when Salah took a shot, Mane just turned around rather than following the ball in (the keeper fumbled it, but collected, so even though Mane wouldn’t have reached it, he needs to be chasing it in). That happened a minute or so after coming on, and it set the tone for his sub appearance,.
R Williams has a habit of lunging to the ball rather than staying on his feet, thus selling himself. First time, ok he’s a kid. Second time, ok, rush of blood thinking can win it. But then again and again and eventually led to a goal. Having both Fab and R Williams in nick ball mode is dangerous as a CB pairing. R Williams is better with the ball than N Phillips, but I’d go with the player who has tasted a whole season in the German second league.
Why Andy even playing? If Tsimikas can’t get in, what’s the point of him. TAA out of form, but I don;t mind letting him get himself back in form.
Cheap freekick for Man U’s third goal. Lucky richochets as well for the other goals. Just the way it goes and you’re in a bad spell.
Would have liked Kellehar to play in this game. The last few minutes with Milner, Curtis and Shaq as the midfield three was painful.
Big game against Jose’s Spurs on Thursday. Need Matip and Henderson back for that.