United Back On Form To Beat Spurs


Spurs...

By David Hobbs
March 21 2004

Manchester United have returned to winning ways and have beaten Tottenham Hotspur by a healthy 3 goals to nil at Old Trafford, making that vital win the first in 4 league games. Two very late goals by substitutes Cristiano Ronaldo and David Bellion sealed the win for the Red Devils at the end. Hobbs in Trouble

United Back On Form To Beat Spurs

Manchester United have returned to winning ways and have beaten Tottenham Hotspur by a healthy 3 goals to nil at Old Trafford, making that vital win the first in 4 league games.

Two very late goals by substitutes Cristiano Ronaldo and David Bellion sealed the win for The Red Devils after Ryan Giggs put United into a first-half lead.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made a few controversial changes to the starting XI. Skipper Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Diego Forlan all featured in the starting line-up whilst Tim Howard made way for Roy Carroll between the sticks.

Norwegian international Solskjaer, making his first start in 6 months due to injury, did very well to set up United's opener after half an hour when his accurate cross found Ryan Giggs who cheekily back-healed it home for United.

Excellent link up play from an impressive Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes set up Ruud van Nistelrooy who thought he'd doubled United's lead but Kasey Keller's reactions saved Spurs' blushes.

The windy weather didn't help United at all but aided Stephen Carr's long rang effort and Spurs' only effort of the half along the way to goal but it didn't find the back of the net. That was the last piece of action in a rather dull first 45 minutes.

      Half-time: Manchester United 1 - Tottenham Hotspur 0

Spurs' acting manager David Pleat was forced to change formation at the interval and also threw on Frenchman Stephane Dalmat in place of Maurico Taricco in an attempt to spice-up the attack.

An erratic Spurs outfit surged for an equaliser and Michael Brown's shot was too weak to find a way past the gale force winds and Roy Carroll.

Pleat made a double substitution during the latter stages of the game and brought on Fredi Kanoute and Jamie Redknapp. Sir Alex had Pleat's game-plan sussed and brought on Nicky Butt and Cristiano Ronaldo in favour of Nicky Butt and Diego Forlan.

With one minute to go Cristiano Ronaldo tried his luck from long range and his teasing shot took a deflection and found a way past a hapless Kasey Keller to double United's advantge.

Sir Alex then decided to give David Bellion a run out with seconds left and a run out he did have. With his first touch of the game the Frenchman hit in a third for a revived United.

      Full-time: Manchester United 3 - Tottenham Hotspur 0
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