Manchester United 3 – Manchester City 1: Match Review

Finally Manchester United sealed a position in the Carling cup final after a dramatic game at Old Trafford against their arc rivals Manchester City. United’s superstar striker Wayne Rooney headed a cross from Ryan Giggs to send Manchester United into the Carling Cup final in the stoppage time of second half. At the end Manchester City did not looked very comfortable in handling the pressure of big game.

The result was an expected one but the way it came was not expected. After a goalless first half, Scholes scored in 52^nd minute to bring United equal on aggregate. Carrick made it 2-0 with just about 20 minutes left in the game. Carlos Tevez made it 2-1 and looked to have sent the semi-final into extra-time. But the final goal from Rooney sealed the game for Manchester United in the stoppage time.

Earlier in the Premier league Man City have faced similar situation when Owen scored in the stoppage time for United to win the game 4-3. Yesterday it was similar situation and City lost it 4-3 on aggregate.

For Manchester City Richards and Tevez came close to score but Van Der Sar denied them in doing so at both occasions. The game started in tight security and Man City showed great composure in both attack and defense. But games first goal came from 35 years old Paul Scholes when he stroked from 18 yards early in the second half.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson started the game with Rooney as a lone striker with Nani and Giggs on wings. Rooney’s dream form continued and he scored the most important goal of the game for United.

Teams:

Manchester United

Van der Sar

Rafael Da Silva - Ferdinand - Evans - Evra

Giggs - Carrick - Scholes - Nani

Fletcher

Rooney

Manchester City

Given

Richards - Zabaleta - Kompany - Garrido

Wright-Phillips - Barry - De Jong - Boyata

Tevez Bellamy

Final Score:

Manchester United 3 (Scholes, Carrick, Rooney) – Manchester City 1 (Tevez)

Facts of the game:

• All the three goals came from English players for Manchester United
• Garry Neville and Berbatov did not appear in the game. Neville was not even on the bench.
• Sir Alex Ferguson preferred to play with single striker.
• Carlos Tevez scored third time in two games against United.

Manchester United v Manchester City: match preview

England ace striker Wayne Rooney will have to continue his form for his club Manchester United against rivals Manchester City in the second leg of Carling cup semi final. Rooney who has scored four goals in the game against Hull will be the key man for the home team. City showed a display of much disciplined performance in the first leg and won the game. Now the pressure is on United and it will be a game of attack and defense.

Manchester United Tactics
Team boss Sir Alex knows it very well that his team needs to score in this game, so he will give preference to Berbatov upfront with Rooney. Nani also showed great moves in the game against Hull and will get a chance to play in this game. Ferdinand will be available for this game and this will certainly boost the defense of the home team.

Manchester City Tactics
Manchester City’s strategy will be focused on to stop Rooney. They will depend upon their centre back Victor Kompany. Newly appointed coach Roberto Mancini is working on the defense of the team and City is becoming more difficult to concede a goal.

Probable Teams

Manchester United

Van der Sar

Raeaef Ferdinand Evans Evra

Nani Fletcher Scholes Giggs

Rooney Berbatov

Manchester City

Given

Richards Boyata Kompany Garrido

Wright-Phillips De Jong Barry Petrov

Bellamy Tevez

Score Predication

Manchester United 3 - Manchester City 1

Manchester United vs Hull City Preview

Manchester United is set to go top of the premier league with a win at Old Trafford against Hull on Saturday.

In the last season Hull City 4-3 lost at Old Trafford. It was a great game where United won three points but Hull won hearts with their enthusiastic performance. Hull boss Phil Brown believes that his side can shock United at Old Trafford. Last time when Hull visited Manchester they drew with Manchester City in November. Phil Brown is spirited after the draw against Spurs at White Hart Lane.

In spite of Phil Brown’s positive mentality it is still very difficult to win at Old Trafford. Sir Alex knows that this win is important for United, because it will help them to go top in the table.

Team News
Manchester United's defeat at the City of Manchester Stadium in the Carling Cup semi-final, epitomizes a run of erratic results in the last two months were United's lack of depth has been found out. Wayne Rooney is having a dip in form and this has affected United rather adversely. The lack of options upfront with Berbatov and Owen showing very little consistency has Sir Alex scratching his head. The blossoming of Mame Biram Diouf though is a brilliant sign for United's future.

United have looked vulnerable against the top teams throughout the campaign. The Red Devils seem incapable of matching the quality on the ball of the two London sides, something that is absolutely essential to win the Premier League title.

Injuries
Manchester United
John O'Shea is out of the rest of the season with a major leg injury. Owen Hargreaves will remain absent. Rio Ferdinand will have to pass a fitness test on Friday, and may play in the game. Dimitar Berbatov is already suffering from his leg and may not play in order to keep him fresh for the second leg of Carling Cup.

In the coming week United have two huge games to play, first the derby clash and then a trip to Emirates to play high-flying Arsenal. Sir Alex may opt to rest few of his first team regulars this week to ensure that he has a fully fit squad for those two more crucial games. In this situation Sir Alex should try Owen Rooney combination upfront. He may also go for Mame Diouf along with Rooney upfront with Berbatov and Owen on bench.

Hull City
Hull will miss their most creative player Jimmy Bullard (out with knee ligament tear) and their skipper Ian Ashbee (out for the season). They will also miss the services of Seyi Olofinjana and Daniel Cousin who are at the African Cup of Nations.

Probable Line Up

Manchester United
Van Der Sar
Neville Brown Evans Rafael
Valencia Scholes Anderson Giggs
Owen Rooney

Hull City
Myhill
Zayatte Gardner McShane Dawson
Hunt Boateng Geovanni Barmby
Garcia Zaki

Score Prediction
Manchester United 3
Hull City 1

Man to Watch
Wayne Rooney
Boaz Myhill

Birmingham City v Manchester United Preview

Manchester United is looking all set to take on Birmingham City on Saturday. United will definitely look to come back from 1-0 defeat at home in their FA Cup tie against Leeds.

Stats and history of this fixture is very much with the red devils but seeing the current form, Birmingham City can’t be underestimated. They haven’t lost in their last 11 games in EPL. Last time Birmingham lost in EPL was in October when Arsenal have defeated them 3-1. Birmingham has shared points with Chelsea, Liverpool (at Anfield) and Manchester City during these eleven games. They have won against Fulham, Wigan, West Ham, Stoke and Wolves.

Manchester United have shown mixed form during their last six games (all comptitions). They have won three and lost three. Although Man Utd is on second position in the English Premier League Table, they will have to fight hard to gain all three points from this game.

Probable Line Up for Birmingham game:

Kuszczak
Rafael Evans Vidic Evra
Anderson Scholes Carrick
Valencia Giggs
Rooney

Quick Facts about this fixture:

• The Red Devils have won 1-0 on last three occasions in their last three meetings with Birmingham.
• United striker Wayne Rooney has scored four goals in five Premier League starts against Birmingham.
• Birmingham have scored just twice in their last 11 Premier League meetings with Man Utd.
• Manchester United have won just once in their last five Premier League games with Mark Clattenburg as the referee.

Carling Cup Update:

Recently postponed Carling Cup tie between Man Utd and Man City is rescheduled on 19^th January and the second leg will be played on 27^th January.