The lads need to bounce back from their Euro hangover. Rio has a niggling injury and will have to pass a late fitness test, but the rest of the squad is fit (sans the long term injuries we are all aware of). Match is Live on PPV and at your local footy pub.
This one could be very similar to the Southampton match. Birmingham City are a tough defensive squad and I think they've only conceded two goals--and none at home.
Here's the supposed lineup (from rednews.co.uk): Howard, Carroll, Barthez, P Neville, G Neville, Silvestre, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Fortune, Butt, Ronaldo, Keane, Djemba-Djemba, Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Forlan, Fletcher, Richardson, Scholes
BBC Match Preview Rio Ferdinand will undergo a fitness test after injuring his foot in Manchester United's midweek Champions League defeat by Stuttgart......... Wes Brown (knee), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (knee) and Kleberson (shoulder) are still missing from the squad.
I thought Carroll was out with injury and Barthez would be the #2. I wouldn't put the Blues in the same defensive category as a club like Southampton yet. They've had a nice start to the year, that's all.
Maik Taylor gets sent off in the 34 minute. Ruud makes it 1-0 on the penalty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul Scholes scores goals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2-0 Utd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From 25 yards out...
All in all a fair enough result. I wish it had been a more convincing first half (only 1-0 after the penalty/red card). You guys think Fletcher did well? I thought he worked hard, was a threat on the wing in the attack, but more often than not, the last touch/ball was lacking. I was sort of surprised that Forlan came in at 2-0. I guess SAF wanted to go for the 3-0 convincing win? The old "Kick em while they're down" strategy, eh? I liked it