Manchester United defeated Wigan 1-0, and now sit only two points back of Liverpool with a game in hand. Wayne Rooney banged in a cross from Ronaldo in the first minute, and that was all the Red Devils needed for all three points. There was bad news, as Rooney had to come off early with a hamstring injury that will see him miss three weeks. It was also interesting to see the changes Ferguson made from the side that defeated Chelsea. Ronaldo was the only midfield holdover, as Nani, Carrick and Scholes all started. This game was really a showcase of the depth that Man U have, with youngsters and veterans combining for the win. Their game in hand is against Fulham, and while the Mighty Whites are having their best spell in years, that game in hand should translate to three points. Liverpool have a Mersey derby, and then play Chelsea in a couple of weeks, so Man U could be sitting in first by February.
What has been most impressive about United's surge up the table is their defense. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Man City have all scored more goals than United. However, United have conceded the fewest goals all season with only 10 goals allowed in 20 matches. This has really showcased their depth at the back, as they have dealt with a number of injuries. Gary Neville has been battling injuries for the past two years, and even when he is healthy it looks like Rafael is the preferred choice. Neville did start the Chelsea match, but Rafael has more starts than the United skipper this year. He is extremely dangerous going forward, and a perfect compliment to Evra on the left. Evra has missed games through suspension and injury, and in his stead John O'Shea has played brilliantly. While not gifted with Evra's pace or ball control, his size and strength make up for it. Along with youngster Jonathan Evans, they have deputized for Rio Ferdinand during his injuries. Vidic has played almost every minute, and his goals against Sunderland and Chelsea were huge morale boosters. It's easy to forget that West Brown will be coming back from injury shortly, and explains why Silvestre was sold in the summer. United have an understudy for every player on their backline, which explains why they are still challenging for four trophies and won the FIFA World Club Championship in Japan.There were also a couple of FA Cup games today, and judging by his selection it looks like Scolari reads my blog. He dropped Deco and Drogba, and instead had Anelka, Kalou and Joe Cole leading the line. Sherlock Holmes would have had dropping finding any evidence in the fog that plagued the game, and Southend was able to take advantage of Chelsea's woeful defending of set pieces. Ballack fired home a loose ball in the box right before halftime to boost the morale. Chelsea then turned it up a notch, with Kalou, Anelka and Lampard all scoring in the second half. After this win, Scolari will be hardpressed to feature Drogba against Stoke. Hull defeated Newcastle in their replay, while Crystal Palace defeated Leicester in a lower league matchup.
One Liners
- Kaka rejects £100 million move to Man City, I guess money can't buy everything
- Bolton makes bid for Bullard, but he probably has too much hair for the Reebok
- Hammers reject another Bellamy bid, why?
- Chelsea unsure of Joe Cole injury, hope that magic spray can work its magic
