Line Ups
Man Utd: Foster, Fabio Da Silva, O'Shea, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Owen, Anderson, Giggs, Gibson, De Laet.
Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Queudrue, Vignal, Larsson, Ferguson, Carsley, Fahey, McFadden, Jerome. Subs: Maik Taylor, O'Connor, Phillips, Benitez, McSheffrey, Parnaby, O'Shea.
Foster starts in goal for ManUtd aiming to improve on his less than convincing performance against Chelsea last weekend. In defense, United have a big injury problem with Ferdinand, Vidic, Neville, Rafael all injured and Evans and Brown carrying knocks. That means a start for O'Shea and Evans in the center, with Fabio on the right and Evra on the left. In midfield, Fletcher and Scholes start in central midfield with Nani amazingly recovering from a dislocated shoulder to start on the left wing. Valencia makes his league debut for United on the right wing. Rooney leads the attack along with Berbatov. United's other new boy Michael Owen starts on the bench alongside Giggs and Anderson. United play in the more rigid 4-4-2 formation with Berbatov playing in front of Rooney and Valencia and Nani attacking on the wings.
Match Report
United produced a less than scintillating display to overcome a dogged Birmingham side 1-0 thanks to Wayne Rooney's strike in the first half.
The forward tapped in the rebound when his header from Nani's looping cross came off the post. Ben Foster kept a Christian Benitez shot out with a brilliant stop to maintain the advantage after the Ecuadorian had raced clear of the United's defence. Substitute Michael Owen wasted a glorious opportunity to grab a debut goal when his shot was blocked Hart deep into injury time.
Even though the champions were not at their glorious best, they created enough chances and notched up several attacks on Birmingham to prove that they have enough talent in the squad without Ronaldo. Rooney, in particular, was at the heart of everything with some deft touches, intelligent runs and fabulous shots.
The match started out as a scrappy affair with both sets of players marking their territories and going into clattering tackles. United showed their attacking intentions early on trying to get the ball forward to Nani and Valencia on the wings to whip crosses in for the forwards to attack. Birmingham looked to close shop on United with a five man midfield and try to hit them on counter attack using the pace of McFadden and Jerome. United enjoyed a bulk of the early possession and exploited the space offered to them in the midfield thanks to Birmingham's defensive tactics with Rooney testing Hart early on with a looping header.
Eight minutes in, Fletcher created an early opportunity for Nani but his shot was blocked by Hart. Rooney again was in the thick of things when he tested Hart with a dipping 20 yarder, which the young English keeper palmed away. United created enough chances but lacked the finishing touch before Rooney put them forward at the half hour mark with a scintillating move starting at the half way line. The striker fed parter Berbatov with a headed pass, who in turn released Nani on the left wing. The winger produced a teasing looping cross which Rooney tapped in after his inital header had rebounded off the post.
Birmingham responded instantly with Jerome going close with a 20 yard stike that was deflected away from goal with keeper Foster beaten. From the resulting corner, Quedrue thought he had scored before Evra made a fantastic block on the far post off the line. The champions should have taken a two goal cushion into the break but Fletcher somehow managed to drag his shot wide from 10 yards out being played in by some excellent link up play between Evra and Nani on the left.
At the interval, Giggs came on in place of Nani, who was struggling with his injured shoulder. Rooney started the half with a bang, latching onto a bouncing ball and unleasing a stunning dipping volley from 30 yards out which Hart did well to keep out. United kept continuing to create chances but as the half progressed Birmigham started to grow in confidence and Fahey and later McFadden. Berbatov had a header cleared off the line and a strong penalty appeal rejected before being replaced by Owen. But it was the Birmingham substitute Benitez who came closest to scoring. Th Ecuadorian broke the offside trap with a superbly timed run and produced a fantastic save from Foster. At the other end, Rooney and Owen were lionking up well with Rooney getting a chance on 83rd minute and releasing late Owen late on with a chested flick in injury time. But one on one with Hart, his shot was deflected by Hart of his legs and the chance for Owen to make it a dream debut was gone.
Manchester United Match ratings
Ben Foster - 6 - Didn't have the best of the outings and looked nervous in goal, especially to crosses. Made a brilliant stop to deny Benitez though.
Fabio - 6 - Made some good forward runs, but his crossing and tackling left a bit to be desired.
O'Shea - 6 - Solid at the back. Mishit a few passes going forward but defended well.
Evans - 7 - Steady at the heart of the defence. Didn't give Jerome an inch and defended well.
Evra - 8 - Was excellent going forward, linking up well with Nani and later Giggs. Defended well.
Valencia - 6 - Had a quite evening. Made some good forward runs but didn't get the final ball in.
Fletcher - 7 - Solid as ever. Broke Birmingham's attack and started United's. Should have done beter with the chance at half time though.
Scholes - 6 - Had a quite eveing by his high standards. Always available to take a pass, saw plenty of the ball without creating too much.
Nani - 7 - Had a decent outing before being substituted. Had a few shots on target and setup Rooney for the goal.
Berbatov - 6 - Had a topsy turvey game. Brilliant in patches but went missing for the rest of the game.
Rooney - 9 - At the heart of everything united created. Menacing with the ball, showed some deft touches and made intelligent runs off the ball. Capped an excellent display with the winner.
Giggs - 6 - Showed some delightful touches but gave the ball away too often.
Brown - 5 - Played Benitez onside allowing the striker to race clear. Looked shaky coming off an injury.
Owen - 6 - Linked up well with Rooney in attack. Should have done much better with the chance right at the death.
Man Utd: Foster, Fabio Da Silva, O'Shea, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Owen, Anderson, Giggs, Gibson, De Laet.
Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Queudrue, Vignal, Larsson, Ferguson, Carsley, Fahey, McFadden, Jerome. Subs: Maik Taylor, O'Connor, Phillips, Benitez, McSheffrey, Parnaby, O'Shea.
Foster starts in goal for ManUtd aiming to improve on his less than convincing performance against Chelsea last weekend. In defense, United have a big injury problem with Ferdinand, Vidic, Neville, Rafael all injured and Evans and Brown carrying knocks. That means a start for O'Shea and Evans in the center, with Fabio on the right and Evra on the left. In midfield, Fletcher and Scholes start in central midfield with Nani amazingly recovering from a dislocated shoulder to start on the left wing. Valencia makes his league debut for United on the right wing. Rooney leads the attack along with Berbatov. United's other new boy Michael Owen starts on the bench alongside Giggs and Anderson. United play in the more rigid 4-4-2 formation with Berbatov playing in front of Rooney and Valencia and Nani attacking on the wings.
Match Report
United produced a less than scintillating display to overcome a dogged Birmingham side 1-0 thanks to Wayne Rooney's strike in the first half.
The forward tapped in the rebound when his header from Nani's looping cross came off the post. Ben Foster kept a Christian Benitez shot out with a brilliant stop to maintain the advantage after the Ecuadorian had raced clear of the United's defence. Substitute Michael Owen wasted a glorious opportunity to grab a debut goal when his shot was blocked Hart deep into injury time.Even though the champions were not at their glorious best, they created enough chances and notched up several attacks on Birmingham to prove that they have enough talent in the squad without Ronaldo. Rooney, in particular, was at the heart of everything with some deft touches, intelligent runs and fabulous shots.
The match started out as a scrappy affair with both sets of players marking their territories and going into clattering tackles. United showed their attacking intentions early on trying to get the ball forward to Nani and Valencia on the wings to whip crosses in for the forwards to attack. Birmingham looked to close shop on United with a five man midfield and try to hit them on counter attack using the pace of McFadden and Jerome. United enjoyed a bulk of the early possession and exploited the space offered to them in the midfield thanks to Birmingham's defensive tactics with Rooney testing Hart early on with a looping header.
Eight minutes in, Fletcher created an early opportunity for Nani but his shot was blocked by Hart. Rooney again was in the thick of things when he tested Hart with a dipping 20 yarder, which the young English keeper palmed away. United created enough chances but lacked the finishing touch before Rooney put them forward at the half hour mark with a scintillating move starting at the half way line. The striker fed parter Berbatov with a headed pass, who in turn released Nani on the left wing. The winger produced a teasing looping cross which Rooney tapped in after his inital header had rebounded off the post.
Birmingham responded instantly with Jerome going close with a 20 yard stike that was deflected away from goal with keeper Foster beaten. From the resulting corner, Quedrue thought he had scored before Evra made a fantastic block on the far post off the line. The champions should have taken a two goal cushion into the break but Fletcher somehow managed to drag his shot wide from 10 yards out being played in by some excellent link up play between Evra and Nani on the left.
At the interval, Giggs came on in place of Nani, who was struggling with his injured shoulder. Rooney started the half with a bang, latching onto a bouncing ball and unleasing a stunning dipping volley from 30 yards out which Hart did well to keep out. United kept continuing to create chances but as the half progressed Birmigham started to grow in confidence and Fahey and later McFadden. Berbatov had a header cleared off the line and a strong penalty appeal rejected before being replaced by Owen. But it was the Birmingham substitute Benitez who came closest to scoring. Th Ecuadorian broke the offside trap with a superbly timed run and produced a fantastic save from Foster. At the other end, Rooney and Owen were lionking up well with Rooney getting a chance on 83rd minute and releasing late Owen late on with a chested flick in injury time. But one on one with Hart, his shot was deflected by Hart of his legs and the chance for Owen to make it a dream debut was gone.
Manchester United Match ratings
Ben Foster - 6 - Didn't have the best of the outings and looked nervous in goal, especially to crosses. Made a brilliant stop to deny Benitez though.
Fabio - 6 - Made some good forward runs, but his crossing and tackling left a bit to be desired.
O'Shea - 6 - Solid at the back. Mishit a few passes going forward but defended well.
Evans - 7 - Steady at the heart of the defence. Didn't give Jerome an inch and defended well.
Evra - 8 - Was excellent going forward, linking up well with Nani and later Giggs. Defended well.
Valencia - 6 - Had a quite evening. Made some good forward runs but didn't get the final ball in.
Fletcher - 7 - Solid as ever. Broke Birmingham's attack and started United's. Should have done beter with the chance at half time though.
Scholes - 6 - Had a quite eveing by his high standards. Always available to take a pass, saw plenty of the ball without creating too much.
Nani - 7 - Had a decent outing before being substituted. Had a few shots on target and setup Rooney for the goal.
Berbatov - 6 - Had a topsy turvey game. Brilliant in patches but went missing for the rest of the game.
Rooney - 9 - At the heart of everything united created. Menacing with the ball, showed some deft touches and made intelligent runs off the ball. Capped an excellent display with the winner.
Giggs - 6 - Showed some delightful touches but gave the ball away too often.
Brown - 5 - Played Benitez onside allowing the striker to race clear. Looked shaky coming off an injury.
Owen - 6 - Linked up well with Rooney in attack. Should have done much better with the chance right at the death.
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