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For half an hour at Old Trafford on Saturday, it looked like there might be a shock result that could open up the title race; Blackburn Rovers, playing aggressive, compact football led Manchester United 1-0 from the 30-minute mark with a goal by Matt Derbyshire, and United were looking wobbly. But the half time interval was a good friend to the Premiership leaders, and they came out for the second half a different team, while Blackburn fatally took their foot off the accelerator, thinking that the one goal might be enough. It wasn’t – far from it; Paul Scholes’ equaliser on the hour was the signal for a flurry of goals ending with Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, an ever-youthful-looking 34, making it 4-1 on the stroke of time. Manager Alex Ferguson’s satisfaction with the result would have been complete but for a nasty injury to in-form Serbian central defender Nemanja Vidic, who dislocated a shoulder and could be out for over a month. His partnership with Rio Ferdinand has been a solid base for excellent team displays this season, and it remains to be seen what effect his absence will have.
Chelsea, playing later in the day, must have despaired at Manchester United’s comeback, and the Blues’ performance at bottom club Watford revealed perhaps a little psychological fatigue: they’ve been trailing United by six points for ages now, knowing that they dare not lose points, while United just don’t appear capable of slipping up. This time Chelsea left it until added time to snatch a win, Salomon Kalou the saviour. (In the 51 competitive games Chelsea have played this season, they have scored 24 goals in the last ten minutes). Watford fans, surely doomed to relegation, wanted to take someone with them: “You’re getting sacked in the summer!” they chanted. It was directed at Chelsea coach José Mourinho, whose position at Stamford Bridge becomes increasingly precarious as each week passes, despite the success of the team on the pitch. After the Watford game, club owner Roman Abramovich was seen in deep discussion with four directors, who went to the changing room to congratulate the team … but without Abramovich. Dutch coach Gus Hiddink has been linked to the job.
Liverpool leapfrogged over rivals Arsenal into third place with an emphatic 4-1 win at Anfield, spidery Peter Crouch getting a hat-trick. Liverpool have just learned that their plans for a new 60,000+ stadium in nearby Stanley Park have been given the ok from the city council, so there was a double reason to celebrate this weekend, at least for the owners – diehard fans will no doubt miss the mystique of Anfield.
At the bottom, Charlton are attempting a Harry Houdini act; they looked down and out a month ago, but three wins and a draw in the last four games have given their fans a reason to dream. Now the teams immediately above them, especially Sheffield United (one point difference) and Wigan (two points – beaten 0-1 at the weekend at ... Charlton), will be looking nervously over their shoulders.
In Scotland, Celtic once again stumbled, drawing 1-1 at Dundee United … but closest rivals Rangers missed the chance to gain ground on them by also drawing 1-1, at home to lowly Inverness Caledonian Thistle. In the Edinburgh derby, Hearts travelled across town to beat the eternal enemy Hibernian 1-0, their first win at Easter Road in five years. The win puts eight points between Hearts in fourth and Hibs in fifth, leaving the top four as Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts. And it may well stay that way, given the substantial points differences between the teams.
by Phil Town
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