The Aftermath: United 2-1 Wolves

We called it. We most certainly did!

The Breakdown
United 2-1 Wolves
On the day Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates 24 years on the job, Manchester United seal a late late victory, thanks to Park Ji-Sung! Really showing us what he's made of, the Corean.

In the first first half, reminiscent of the game in the Carling Cup against Wolves, Park Ji-Sung (as prophetically prophesied by Amer, or rather Kirk!) managed to convince me to change the tone which I was going to describe the first half with.

In all honesty, it was a bit of a travesty.

Spare a thought for Owen Hargreaves though. Amer didn't pick this one, Hargreaves started in another strange formation fielded by Sir Alex - in part enforced by the bug that's going around Old Trafford which has sidelined a few players. But yeah, 6 minutes in, and probably the unluckiest player in red these days limps off with a hamstring injury. How many more setbacks can he take?

van der Sar

Brown | Ferdinand | Vidic | Evra

Hargreaves | Fletcher | O'Shea | Park

Obertan

Chicharito

Back to the match, and we didn't deserve the lead going into half-time whatever the team we played. Wolves manufactured the more memorable of the chances in the first half, a shot by Milijas which Vidic deflected out for a corner—even though 75,000 people were convinced it would've ended up in the back of the net.

Jarvis down the left, their dangerman, was a particularly big threat throughout the first half, especially when Bebe was brought on to replace Hargreaves—his attacking instincts at times hindering his ability to help out Brown who doesn't seem like he's able to handle him on his own.

But it was the last few seconds of the first half which caught my attention, Fletcher holding onto the ball and playing a exquisite through-ball (well... with a bit of imagination) to Park who was in acres of space and he calmly slots it into the back of Hahnemann's net. 1-0 HT.

Come the second half, and Obertan moves onto the left wing, to make a 4-5-1 with Park roaming free in an attacking role. It didn't lead to any more cohesion in the play, and we were almost always lacking in the final third. Just our final pass, really.

Cut to the hour, and Mick McCarthy makes a double change, bringing on 2 strikers, Steven Fletcher and old-boy Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for H(c)unt and Edwards to completely alter the shape of his side, and it makes an almost instant impact.

It all started up the attacking end for United, Fletcher and O'Shea getting in each other's way, really, and the ball breaks for Wolves who manage to pass and run their way into the box, and a Milijas shot was controlled by E-B, who slots it between van der Sar's legs and levels it. Say what you want. 1-1 on 70 minutes.

Frustrating to say the least, but it did result in more urgency in United's play, and forced Sir Alex's hand, who subs the sub, Macheda on for Bebe and he brings Scholes on for a quite woeful O'Shea.

This is a welcome relief, I thought, with Scholes in the middle and playing intelligent and creative balls in and around the Wolves box, the pressure was definitely mounting.

But Steven Fletcher, whom I shall call Steve, gets a gilt-edged chance to seal, what would've been admittedly, a deserving victory for Wolves. But Steve, o Steve, he fluffed his lines and sent the ball horribly high over the bar. Relief? You betcha.

But it was after this that United really turned the screw. It was almost incessant pressure on the Wolves goal. All eyes on the 4th official, who, upon the passing of the 90 minute mark, duly produced the electronic board which showed the green, LED number 4. We had 4 minutes to try and batter Wolves into defeat.

And it's his night tonight, the boy from Seoul. Fletcher plays the ball out to him on the right wing and he runs with it towards the box, and passes a few players, dummies Berra (I do believe) and slots it with his left foot into the opposite corner that he scored from in the first half. Cue manic celebrations. 2-1, at the death.

Three points. Dramatic, yes. What we need for a game against City? Maybe. We go to within 2 points of Chelski at the top of the table, praying for a miracle at Anfield. Dare we turn into Liverpool fans? (Last time I suggested that, Gerrard had an assist against his name for Chelsea. Tap some wood, folks.)

Reaction
First thing I want to say: hard luck for Owen Hargreaves. I mean, seriously. He fights back to get a first start for us in 26 months, first appearance even (if you don't count the last few minutes of last season against Sunderland), and he limps off before he even gets to whip in a good cross. C'mon, Owen! You've won the battle, it's almost time to get back on your feet, proper.

We feel for you, old chap.

Now, let's have a look at who was good today.

Man-of-the-moment (in our eyes) Park Ji-Sung bags a brace and wins the match. I'll get my Best Player award out of the way quickly, and give it to him. He scored the goals, he made the runs, he held the ball up, he tracked back. It was a fantastic display from him tonight and he deserves it. I hope he gets a bottle champagne and maybe a pair of scissors, to get his haircut sorted.

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez played well again today I feel. Judging by the way he played against Wolves, he (1) wasn't completely comfortable playing as the lone man up front and (2) was never going to compete with Berra and Stearman at the back for Wolves. Nonetheless, he was energetic and was in a few good positions. I think his excellent play should've been exploited better by the rest of our team, maybe Obertan and Fletcher could've been more aware of where he was going when they had the ball in dangerous areas.

Despite conceding a goal, the defence played alright today. A lot is made of how solid they are when they play together, Ferdinand and Vidic, but what is sometimes neglected is their use of the ball when they're given it. Obviously, they didn't exactly make any "hollywood passes" as one of the commentators quipped, but I think their general distribution was good. So they get a thumbs up, and I'm generally encouraged. Hopefully, with more guys fit for a game, we'll be able to shut those noisy neighbours out on Wednesday night.

Now for the cons.
John O'Shea playing in midfield. Now, he's a "utility player", a "Jack of all trades." I dunno about you, but I'm more inclined to think of the second half of that idiom, "... master of none". He can play anywhere, sure, he's even played in goal. Doesn't mean he's our first choice in those positions.

"I'm only trying my best..."

But, I understand. Players out with a virus, it was probably an enforced change. And he didn't make any glaring errors... so maybe that would be a bit harsh on him—that is to say, it'd be harsh to single just him out from the team's performance tonight.

Bebe gets fortunate 'cause of Owen Hargreaves' injury, but I mean... had one or two moments where he was running around and making passes, but when he had the ball, it wasn't really as dangerous as we've seen him be. Crosses. He needs to learn how to do them consistently.

Overall, it was average at best. We still won, though, which (if we were champions) would get commentators and pundits to bring out that saying, which I really quite loathe, "... and that's why they're Champions!" We didn't play like Champions, but Champions don't have to play convincingly, they just have to win. And win we did.

Where We Stood, Where We Stand
With that, we move into second, because Arsenal play tomorrow. Spurs lost to Bolton, in a much more entertaining match, 4-2 and City play tomorrow.

1|Chelsea|10P|24GD|25PTS
2|United|11P|11GD|23PTS
3|Arsenal|10P|12GD|20PTS
4|Man City|10P|3GD|17PTS
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5|Bolton|11P|1GD|15PTS