3/23 Spector & Cooper: Manchester United (Reserves) {R}

IMOX77 · Mar 24, 2004

http://www.rednews.co.uk/

Interesting to note that the United back four, although unchanged personnel wise from last week at Birmingham, was shuffled slightly with Paul Tierney moving from centre back out to left back with Danny Pugh partnering Jonathan Spector in the centre.
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Controversy on 19 minutes as a superb through ball launched from the city backline found Glenn Whelan. The city number 4 brought the ball into the United area and then went to ground as Spector was applying pressure. It looked a likely penalty to me, and as I saw the referee hesitate and then raise the whistle to his mouth I knew it was a penalty and I was only wondering whether Spector would escape with just a yellow card or if it would be red. Imagine my surprise when Whelan was booked for his dive and United were given the free kick for this ungentlemanly conduct! To be fair to the referee, Whelan did make the fall look more dramatic than necessary and he may have deliberately slowed his run in order that Spector would have to run into the back of him. Cue lots of very angry Berties in the other 3 stands.
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On 25 minutes Mark Lynch made a couple of poor plays in very quick succession. First a poor touch turned over good united possession very cheaply to city and then when the ball had been won back he played a very poor pass that was nearly punished to the fullest extent. Only through the alertness of Jonathan Spector was our skipper saved huge embarrassment as the centre back slid across to cut out the threat.
City took the lead on 27 minutes, United tried to play their way out of a tight situation near the corner flag, on our left. Danny Pugh took a heavy touch just outside of the penalty area and with in seconds Stephen Elliott was waltzing into our area before sliding home from about 12 yards out. Spector was desperately unlucky as he attempted to block the shot the ball went through his legs and into the bottom corner of the net with Heaton well beaten. City were probably just about worth their lead at this stage as they had begun to keep the ball better than United and seemed to be picking up most of the second balls in midfield.
We nearly countered on 29 minutes with the best United move of the half. Lots of slick passing in a move that flowed from left to right and back again to the left. The move ended with a Kenny Cooper shot, on his left foot, from around the left edge of the area. He hit it well, low and across the keeper but Arason just managed to gather it at full stretch.
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Asa Hartford made his second change at halftime as Wanchope was withdrawn and Bradley Wright-Phillips introduced. United started the second period quite brightly and could easily have drawn level only 2 minutes into the half as a Chris Eagles corner was floated in from our left with some in swing. The ball flicked off of a city head and fell to Spector at the far post who volleyed from about 7 yards out but saw the goal bound effort cleared by a defender stationed on the line.
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Scotty · Mar 24, 2004

Here are some more comments from a match report on Man City's webpage:

Kenny Cooper then forced Arason to make a save with a shot from the right hand side of play.

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In the second half a United corner found Spector and his first time shot was saved low down at the foot of the post by Arason.

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Jonathan Spector then sliced a Jamie Tandy cross onto the top of the bar as both sides pressed forward for a winning goal.
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http://www.mcfc.co.uk/article.asp?article=193053&Title=RESERVES+DRAW