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| Thursday, December 29, 2005 |
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Birmingham
2
Final - St Andrews Stadium Attendance: 28,459
Birmingham 2 - 2 Man Utd
Jamie Clapham (18)
Walter Pandiani (78)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (5)
Wayne Rooney (54)
Man Utd
2
Preview Match Gamecast Report
Updated: Dec. 28, 2005, 10:03 PM UK
Birmingham 2-2 Man Utd: The Rifle on target
Walter 'The Rifle' Pandiani came off the substitutes' bench to halt the Manchester United bandwagon and grab a priceless 2-2 draw for Steve Bruce's relegation-threatened side.
Nicky Butt in action against his former club.
Pandiani, who is on the verge of joining Espanyol for £1million, turned home his second Premiership goal of the campaign with 12 minutes remaining.
• Fergie fury at referee
United had twice led through Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney, had the chances in the second half to kill off the game but Blues never gave up and gained only their fifth home point of the campaign.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side are now 11 points adrift of Chelsea after their single-goal win at Manchester City.
Birmingham are still in deep trouble, but this will be an enormous confidence-booster against a United side who had taken 22 points from the previous eight games.
City are at least now showing signs of not surrendering their top flight status without a fight after a performance branded as ``pathetic'' by Bruce at Manchester City only 11 days ago.
They matched the Red Devils in the opening 45 minutes with a committed performance and Emile Heskey caused plenty of problems to the United rearguard.
In the second half United stepped up a gear with Rooney a constant threat and they had opportunities to have wrapped up the points in more comfortable fashion. But Bruce's battlers refused to buckle.
It took United only four minutes to break the deadlock through Van Nistelrooy's 17th goal of the campaign.
Paul Scholes played a telling ball into the path of Kieran Richardson and the full-back had time to steady himself before sending over a low centre and Van Nistelrooy held off the challenge of Upson to drill his shot past Maik Taylor.
Blues retaliated and Scholes pulled off a point-blank range clearance to somehow keep out Stephen Clemence's header after Heskey had flicked Jermaine Pennant's corner across the face of goal.
The home side were showing plenty of spirit after their early setback. Edwin van der Sar reacted well to hold on to a 35-yard free-kick from Jiri Jarosik low to his right before Blues deservedly equalised after 19 minutes.
United appealed in vain for a foul by former United midfielder Nicky Butt on Cristiano Ronaldo and Birmingham broke away in incisive fashion down the left.
Jamie Clapham and Jarosik combined, Emile Heskey turned the ball back into the path of Clapham and his low shot contained too much power for Van der Sar.
United were temporarily rattled and Jarosik again went for glory from another long-range free-kick and he was only a yard too high with a curling effort.
United still threatened and Scholes spotted the run of Van Nistelrooy and threaded a perfect pass into his path but he drilled his shot straight at Maik Taylor.
Blues were knocking the ball around with a confidence which belied their lowly league placing and Heskey was a constant threat up front.
Wayne Rooney had a quiet opening half-hour and his first attempt at goal contained plenty of power but flew past Taylor's post.
United began to enjoy more of the possession in the closing minutes of the half and Van Nistelrooy hit the inside of the post after combining with Rooney, but had drifted offside.
Maik Taylor was fortunate after spilling the ball when coming to the edge of his area but he was able to recover before Van Nistelrooy could pounce.
Birmingham would have been mindful of being caught cold by United in the opening minutes of the second half of last week's Carling Cup tie after the introduction of Rooney as a substitute.
Rooney went close for the first time in the game when he spun past Martin Taylor on the edge of the box and fired a rasping shot only a yard wide but he made no mistake in the 53rd minute.
Alan Smith sent over a low teasing centre, Van Nistelrooy allowed the ball to run through to Rooney, who calmly clipped it wide of Maik Taylor into the corner of the net.
United were now enjoying more of the possession and Van Nistelrooy screwed a shot across the face of goal after racing onto a Rooney pass.
Ronaldo had the chance to wrap up the points for United after being played in by Van Nistelrooy but he sliced his shot across the face of goal.
Rooney was only inches off target with a sublime chip as Maik Taylor scrambled across his goal line after evading the challenge of Martin Taylor.
Bruce brought on Pandiani for Pennant and within three minutes the striker had brought Blues back on level terms.
Neil Kilkenny's free-kick found its way to Damien Johnson at the far post and he managed to turn the ball back across goal where Pandiani made no mistake.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was introduced by United for the final six minutes - his first senior action for 19 months after severe knee problems - but Blues held on.
• Fergie fury at referee
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed referee Howard Webb was influenced by the Birmingham crowd's reaction towards Cristiano Ronaldo as a controversial first goal for City meant United had to settle for a 2-2 draw at St Andrews.
Ronaldo was constantly booed by home supporters every time he touched the ball and was clearly fouled by City midfielder Nicky Butt when United were leading 1-0.
But Webb waved play on and Blues stormed down the other end to grab the first of two equalisers which gave them a precious point in the battle against relegation.
Ferguson conceded that the home side were worthy of a share of the spoils but was upset with the first goal.
He said: 'We have a problem with Ronaldo. Every time he gets the ball, the crowd boo - and the referee has listened to the crowd. There is no question about that.
'Ronaldo was clearly brought down by Nicky Butt. I don't know what you can do about things. But the booing is unfair to the boy because he is such a great player.
'It was frustrating. If the referee watches the game and does not listen to the crowd, then OK, but that is not the case.'
Ferguson was pleased with his side's overall showing - although they are now 11 points adrift of leaders Chelsea - but was disappointed with the nature of their defending, particularly for the second goal from Walter Pandiani.
Ferguson said: 'It was a real cup tie game and a draw was a fair result. The disappointment is we led twice and never won. The defending for the second goal was very poor. We can't accept that kind of defending.
'I know you can make a case for the fact that Wes Brown and Mikael Silvestre were out injured and we had to play young Kieran Richardson at full-back but we should be doing better than that. Giving away two goals like that is not like us.
'We had the chance to finish it off at 2-1 but I had a feeling when we didn't get the first goal that we would suffer for it.'
Ferguson is still optimistic despite the mountain his side now face to catch Chelsea. He said: 'It is a bad result for us. But we have to go again. We have been playing well and there is a good spirit about us.
'We have played some terrific football tonight in the final third of the field and Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy were fantastic.'
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce insisted Pandiani would be going nowhere in January until a replacement striker was found, despite reports from Spain claiming he was about to join Espanyol for £1million.
Bruce said: 'Walter will not be going anywhere until I can get someone in first of all - if he is going anywhere at all.
'I have read these reports coming out of Spain. We have had an offer for Walter but we haven't accepted that offer.
'We've got a few players missing through injury so how can I let anyone out of the door?
'Until I get at least one or two strikers in through the door, no-one will be leaving.'
Bruce admitted: 'I am delighted with the performance. You can see a bit of confidence coming back into the team. There were a few harsh words said after the Manchester City game 10 days ago and I have had a great response.
'There has been a lot said and written about the players not having the spirit and desire. They have answered that with one hell of a performance and we deserved to get something out of the game.'
Jamie Clapham, who scored City's opening goal, suffered a knee injury late in the game and is to undergo a scan to determine the extent of the damage. |
posted by Lawrence Yash Lee @ Thursday, December 29, 2005   |
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