73' Spector on the bench today, btw. Cooper nearly scores for Utd. again. He's been your most dangerous player this half. Cronaldo's cutback is terrible.
I happen to remember sometime Sir Alex saying we need to win more games 1-0, maybe that's the reason for our Italian football style these days?
74' Cronaldo tracking back well. United mostly on top now, but haven't threatened to score. Boro not getting much possession, however. Good ball by Downing is cleared by Rio.
76' Ooh - another good ball from Downing, and then Reiziger, I think, whiffs completely on a decent chance off a corner. Cronaldo is sent away, and Parlour shoulder tackles him. Yellow for Ray.
77' Game has slowed down now, I'm guessing Boro are a bit tired. Must be, after chasing shadows the whole first half. Now they're in possession, but lose it. Smith fouled on the halfway line.
81' Best spell of pressure from Boro, who win a corner. Its poor, but Smith heads out for another corner.
Its headed out again, and Giggs almost gets clear before he's held back a bit. Giggs coming off now for Bellion.
84' And now Boro are giving a clinic on how not to pass in their own half. For a team in 4th place, this is simply embarassing.
Game is over now. I hope Boro play like this when they face us, because they've been absolutely awful today, except for 15 minutes at the start of the second half.
FT MU 2 - Boro 0. We are now in sole possesion of 3rd place and keeping pressure on Chelsea and Arsenal. Very good game and a great way to start 2005.
I'm glad you mentioned that cuz I thought you were maybe taking some cheap shots. I'm kinda hoping Boro's display today means they'll beat Chelsea because they'll feel extra motivated to prove that they're good enough to compete with the big boys. And we all know that confidence and motivation wins games, not skills and tactics.
agreed. comentator said in the 90th, "silvestre could have been out there in a lawn chair and felt quite comfortable." i thought it would be more fun, and the rest of us were worried sick. maybe it's hasselbaink. he was either a genius or a nonentity when he played for chelsea. today he was a waste of space.
I hate to be a party pooper but I don't agree with the pressure thing being kept on them. They can slip up and still have a lead, afterall. They're the ones keeping pressure on us.
Chelsea beating liverpool earlier really takes a lot of the post-victory glee off this one for me. I was more optimistic than commentators early in the season when they were positive we wouldn't climb (some even claimed Champions League qualification would be a struggle). However, I'm not too sure now, even though "you can never write United off". I hate it when things are not in our hands. Don't get me wrong: I'm fully confident United can go on an unbelievable run right now (we already are on one), but it would take an equally unbelievable slump from Chelsea for us to be in with a chance. Well played Rio, nice glimpse of Dj2 at the end.