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Analysis explained that a victory for the Red Champions would not only see them go back to third in the table, but also reduce the margin off the leaders Liverpool to only five points with two games in hand.

Traditionally, Manchester United are exceptionally ‘unplayable’ in the second part of the season. That is when they put the foot on the pedal and pick more points to claim their authority.
Therefore, Sunday’s game to Chelsea came as a huge test to check out if tradition is on Manchester United’s side this year again. And the Mancunians had the chance to do so in their own fortress – the Theatre of Dreams.

Going into the game, United had not lost a single home match this season, and they were keen to extend their record of six consecutive home wins out of seven. The Reds – who had not conceded a goal in the league since their defeat to Arsenal – were defensively boosted by the return of Patrice Evra who missed United’s four previous games through suspension.

On the other side, the pressure was on Drogba to find the key to unlock the Reds’ defence; the Ivorian striker was back in the starting line up at the expense of the French man Nicolas Anelka who was on the bench. Chelsea’s team spirit also received a boost with the return of skipper John Terry after serving a three-match ban; Joe Cole and Ballack were also fit to start but Malouda was out.

Coach Scolari understood how badly his side needed to put an end to their sluggish late form and his line up explained how much Chelsea was going into the game with the intention of preventing a loss.

The performances of both teams were of high quality; United looked more threatening though the visitors kept a lot of possession.
With more than half an hour gone down the clock, the score line was still goalless. Ronaldo tought he had put United in front when he headed home the ball from a Giggs cross, only to learn that his goal had been ruled out for offside. Berbatov missed a great chance to put United in front after the Reds had launched a wonderful attack. At a point, there were fears that Fergie’s boys will once again be wasteful in front of goal.

Man United continued to knock at the door in search of an opener; their thrilling football spiced up by Ronaldo’s flicks and crosses came very much at Chelsea’s anxiety.

With only seconds to go in the first half, Serbian Star Nemanja Vidic headed Manchester United in front from a corner. It was the defender’s fifth goal of the season, meaning that the Reds could go into the dressing rooms with their noses in front.

Ferguson knew that a second goal would kill the game off, and his belief in the pair of strikers upfront composed of Rooney and Berbatov did not failed him.

The England forward doubled Man United’s lead on 63 minutes, finishing off Evra’s accurate cross with a shot from six yards out to leave the home fans ecstatic.

However, even with the score line being at 2-0, United could not afford to seat back and relax. Park and Ronaldo continued to worry the likes of Ashley Cole and Bosingwa and their resilience and game plan paid off when Berbatov rounded up the match with a third goal for Manchester United.
The Bulgarian connected Cristiano Ronaldo’s excellent shot out of a free kick with a header on 86 minutes to emphasize United’s win.

This historic victory witnessed live by millions around the world means that Chelsea have been handed their heaviest defeat in the Abrahamovic era, and their second away loss since December 07.

Manchester United play Wigan on Wednesday, then Bolton this weekend. If United manage to win both games, they’ll be seating at the top of the table – one point clear of Liverpool who only play next Monday.

Written by: Angela Asante

The Mancunians will have the chance to be just one point behind second placed Chelsea if they clinch all three points.
United have been wasteful in front of goal this season, managing only three goals in their last four games in the league.

Their 3-0 FA Cup win earlier last week gave some kind of relief to Ferguson who thought that his team had found back their killing instinct, but Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat away to Derby proved that the Reds have some work to do if they want to get things right against the Blues this weekend.

Manchester United have an excellent home record this season though, and after enduring tough trips in the first part of the season, they kick off the second half of the league at home against Scolari’s Blue Devils.

The Londoners dropped precious points in their last two matches; their run of 11 consecutive away wins finally ended up with a disappointing goalless draw at Goodison Park last month, followed by a painful 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.

With owner Roman Abrahamovic negatively displaced in the list of Football’s richest personality and reportedly said to be tired of his club Chelsea, the Blues will definitely want to overturn their fortunes around.

The clash promises to be a cracker which is not worth missing.

Written by: Angela Asante

With Ronaldo back in the squad and Tevez starting upfront instead of the injured Berbatov, predictions were that Derby County will suffer from a flurry of goals.

However, if United could boast of a 3-0 FA Cup win four days before, Derby’s confidence was also lifted by their miraculous 4-3 victory which thus took them through to the last 32 of the FA Cup.

Last year, the former Premier League club lost narrowly by a 75th minute Cristiano Ronaldo volley to nil, which inflicted more worries to their poor record in the EPL.

Since 1962, Derby County have never ever reached the final of a major tournament, and their hunger to be a step closer to qualifying for the final of the Carling was certainly bigger than ever.

Steve Davies missed two great opportunities to break the deadlock for the home side but Kris Commons did not miss moments later. His shot 25 yards from goal stunned the visitors; the Championship club were then 1-0 up against the recently crowned World Champions on 30 minutes.

Ronaldo came very close to equalize 15 minutes from time with a long range free-kick. But it was never enough to overcome the nightmare of loosing away to Derby.

The referee’s blow at the end of the 90 minutes came at the relief of the home supporters; their club have recorded arguably the greatest Giant killing of the year so far.

Manchester United will have some work to do later on when they host opponents Derby for the second leg of the semi-final clash.

Written by: Angela Asante.

The Mancunians suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat against them 32 years ago in the 1976 FA Cup final at Wembley to record one of the biggest upsets in the history of club football.

The home side from the Championship were expected to emulate Nottingham Forest’s success who trounced the other Mancunian side Manchester City a day before, but it was the visitors who had the better of the game.

With Cristiano Ronaldo absent from the squad after being sent to Portugal by Ferguson, and Wayne Rooney left on the bench, youngsters like Nani, Danny Welbeck or Rodrigo Possebon were given a place in the squad.

After twenty minutes gone down the clock, Manchester United found themselves up through Danny Welbeck’s close range goal. The promising English striker of Ghanaian origin could relish his second goal for the club at professional level.

Things got even worse for Southampton when Scottish striker Paterson was given a straight red card after fouling Nemanja Vidic on 36 minutes. The underdogs had to surmount the challenge of playing the rest of the match with ten men, and they failed to do so.

Ronaldo’s compatriot Luis Nani doubled United’s lead with a penalty, thenyoung player Gibson sealed the victory ten minutes from time to rub Southampton’s wounds with more salt.

The atmosphere at St Mary’s was filled with the upset mood of the home crowd. But chants of joy and happiness from Manchester United’s travelling crowd could be heard on the background.

The Champions of the World have kick-started 2009 on a good note with a 3-0 victory away to Southampton; the Reds haven’t succumbed to defeat at this stage since 25 years now.
They are through to the fourth round of the competition where they’ll meet the Londoners Tottenham Hotspurs at Old Trafford later this month.

Written by: Angela Asante

After securing a crucial win away to Stoke City three days earlier, the Champions of England became favorite once again to clinch this year’s EPL title.
While Middlesbrough were desperate to end their miserable spell of 7 matches without a win, Manchester United were determined to keep their hopes of winning the Premiership alive.

How the game unfolded

With Patrice Evra serving his controversial four match ban and skipper Rio Ferdinand sidelined with a back injury, youngsters Johnny Evans and Rafael Da Silva were given the chance to play in replacement.

Both sides started on a good note but Manchester United had the better of the possession.
Rooney’s aggressive performance was eye-catching; the Fifa World Club Cup Player of the tournament was at the centre of United’s numerous attacks.
Once again, creating chances wasn’t Manchester’s problem. However, converting them into goals remained the issue. Cristiano Ronaldo missed a handful of opportunities to put his side in front, but he also came very close at times to break the deadlock through a number of well-taking free-kicks.

A question of justice

Boro’s keeper was outstanding in his post, making several saves to rescue his team – one of which was an impressive punch to tip Rooney’s hot ball over the crossbar.
So 0-0 was the scoreline at the end of the 45 minutes, but would it have been the case if the referee had performed a lot better?

Manchester United were denied a clear penalty after Middlesbrough’s O’Neil handled the ball inside the area at the 42nd minute. Ronaldo’s complaint was even more obvious some moments later; the visitors’ skipper Pogatetz was spotted by cameras crushing Ronaldo down to the ground to prevent his side from conceding a goal out the corner.
The so-called ‘bad boy’ had some words to say to the referees at half time, and as it looked that nothing really would be done, Ronaldo went to Pogatetz to make his points. An argument broke out all the way down to the tunnel.

In the second period, Boro’s Bates harshly fouled Wayne Rooney on the edge of the penalty area; one more time, the Middlesbrough player went away unpunished and Manchester United were denied a clear free-kick.

A wasteful but lucky United

Manchester United created at least 25 chances in the whole of the game but could only score a single goal to clinch all three points.

Turkish international Tuncay came inches away to give the visitor a shocking lead one minute after the hour mark with a powerful header that went just wide.

Manchester United understood the alert and did not wait to respond by pressuring their opponents with attacks. Ji Sung Park’s fired a long range effort only to see his shot punched away by Boro’s outstanding keeper. United had to wait four more minutes to find the breakthrough when Berbatov volleyed in a shot from inside the box to inscribe his side’s only goal on 69 minutes.

Park again then missed a wonderful opportunity to double Manchester United’s lead three minutes later as he awfully drove the ball over the bar from close range.

Ronaldo then had to come off at the 84th minute after being the subject of reckless tackles on a frustrating night for him. Middlesbrough seemed completely broken since Berbatov’s super goal but in the dying minutes of the game, it looked like they could turn the fortunes around.

Manchester United hanged on well though, saving themselves from the horror of conceding a late goal out of a Boro corner.

Manchester United have closed the gap to 7 points now against Liverpool. They’ll face an intriguing task on January 11th at Old Trafford against second placed Chelsea.

Written by: Angela Asante