Brighton 1 FC United of Manchester 1: match report

Sir Alex Ferguson once described FC United of Manchester as publicity seekers but Brighton discovered they are an outfit of some substance. The non-league club produced a display of bloody-minded resistance to rival that shown by many of their kind during the collective mortification at the Glazer family’s takeover of Manchester United.

Long after they had secured a replay and a place in the FA Cup third round, the 854 travelling supports bobbed up and down at one end of the Withdean Stadium chanting “are you watching David Gill?” There is no greater tribute of the endeavors of a side pitted against supposed superiors when they provide the illusion that supporters are watching a league encounter rather than a cup tie.

In the first half FC United chased and harried Brighton, whose season has been marked by controlled football which has seen them establish leadership of League One. Success has whetted their supporters’ appetites for more and by the finish they booed their players off the turf, much to the displeasure of their manager.

“I’m very disappointed with the fans,” Gus Poyet said. “Anyone who boos, I invite them to stay home. Proper supporters support the team every minute of the season.”Criticism should be reserved for Brighton since they controlled proceedings but suffered from over-elaboration. Attacks were purposeful but a lack of incisiveness was crippling.

Frustration gripped them but the source of their exasperation was FC United goalkeeper, Sam Ashton. He was rejected by Bolton Wanderers and splits his time as a care worker with coaching in the community, but produced a display worthy of an accomplished stopper. In stoppage time, with Brighton pummeling the box, Karl Munroe pole-axed Francisco Sandaza and Ashton plunged to his right to repel Elliott Bennett’s penalty.

That save sparked gasps but that was not an isolated moment of heroism. In the opening period he kept out Ashley Barnes’ point-blank header. “Sam left Bolton and went from £60,000 a year to £60 a week,” FC United general manager Andy Walsh said. “He coaches in our community but he could play in the Football League.”

For a while FC United made a mockery of the 112 places that separate these clubs. Forward Michael Norton, a tiler by trade who earns £80 a week, pressurised Brighton’s backline. Carlos Roca, a debt adviser, embarrassed footballers on far higher salaries with trickery and pace. Brighton fell behind courtesy of a precise finish from green-keeper Nicky Platt. Norton controlled Roca’s pass and found Platt whose shot whistled in.

Brighton pressed in the second half and Munroe cleared off the line from Sandaza, yet the hosts were aided by Scott McManus’ sending off for clashing with Gary Hart. It took 37-year-old assistant manager Mauricio Taricco’s header to salvage the tie but not deflate wholehearted opponents.

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Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers

If Manchester United avoid defeat they will equal their previous best ever unbeaten start to a season, set in the 1985-86 campaign. On that occasion they won 13 and drew two of their opening 15 games in the old First Division, but their form fell away and they went on to finish fourth. Of their 14 unbeaten games this season United have won seven and drawn seven. But at Old Trafford, they have won six and drawn one and last lost at home in April, against Chelsea.

United are at their best in the first-half of games. Of the 15 goals they have conceded, 13 have come in the second half, representing 87 per cent. In the first-half, they have also scored more second-half goals, 15, compared to the 13 in the first half. United need four goals for 100 at home in league football against Blackburn, in the 48th meeting at Old Trafford.

United can go top for the first time since April 24 and they face a side against who they have taken 39 points from a possible 48 at home in the Premier League. In those 16 games, United have won 12 and drawn three with the only defeat coming in September 2005. And in all competitions, home and away, United are unbeaten in their last nine games against Rovers, since the 3-4 Premier League defeat at Ewood Park in February 2006.

Wayne Rooney could return to league action following Wednesday’s 1-0 win at Rangers where he scored the late winning penalty. Blackburn are likely to be without Brett Emerton again while Martin Olsson, Steven Nzonzi, Vince Grella and Keith Andrews are also out.

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This goal is just the start, says Manchester United's Wayne Rooney

Sir Alex Ferguson insisted there were no lingering issues about Wayne Rooney's popularity with Manchester United's supporters after the striker marked his first start for two months with the goal that sent his club into the Champions League knockout stages.

Rooney's 87th-minute penalty was the decisive moment of a 1-0 win that relegates Rangers into the Europa League and Ferguson believes the forward can now move on from the various controversies that led to a minority of fans booing him when he came on a substitute against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

"There are no issues with that [the fans] at all," the United manager said. "Every time he scores he weds himself to the fans and the players and it's taken a lot of courage to take that penalty kick. I don't think he's ever been short of that – and it was a fantastic penalty. "He's not had an easy night, he's missed a couple of chances but that's what we expected. He's rusty, he needs games; that's obvious, but it's a start for him. We need him to keep playing 90 minutes and that will continue now."

Rooney had insisted before the match that his contract dispute with the club was "100% not about money" and afterwards he said he was relieved to be talking about football again.

"I had to wait quite a long time to take it [the penalty] but I knew what I was doing and where I was going with it," he said. "It didn't bother me too much. There weren't any nerves but it was a relief for me to score and hopefully now I can build on this. I felt good through the game. I felt fit and I want to go on a goalscoring run now."

Rooney added: "I wanted to celebrate with our fans so I went over to them and a fan jumped on me. It was a nice feeling. It was quite a frustrating night until then and we were thankful to get the win in the end. It was a job well done. They [Rangers] got a lot of men behind the ball and made it difficult for us and it was hard to break them down."

United have not conceded a goal in their five Champions League matches and though they are still not absolutely certain to win Group C – they must avoid a two-goal defeat on 7 December at home to Valencia, who last night beat Bursaspor 6-1 in Spain – Ferguson could reflect on a handsome run of nine wins from their last 10 away games.

"Our away form in Europe has been very good over the last few years," he said. "But for an injury-time winner for Bayern Munich [in March] we would have been unbeaten for three years. We've found a way of playing against foreign teams and with good composure. "The atmosphere at Ibrox … you have to quieten it, and I think we did that well and deserved to win.

"They [Rangers] were organised and disciplined and very difficult to break down but we had a high amount of possession, three or four half-chances and one very good chance when Michael Carrick went through on goal. That's the thing I will take from the game – the way we kept possession and controlled the game."

Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, argued that the penalty was unjust, the Swiss referee Massimo Busacca ruling that Steven Naismith had illegally challenged Fábio da Silva. "We worked extremely hard and we're disappointed to lose to that kind of goal," Smith said. "I don't think there was any intent from Steven to foul the player so it was maybe a harsh award. If they had carved us open, we wouldn't be happy, but at least you can accept that."

Ferguson, however, was adamant it was the right decision, saying: "It was an assault, a clear penalty." He was angered, too, that United had not been awarded one inside the opening two minutes, when Steven Davis brought down Dimitar Berbatov. "It was another clear penalty, six yards away from the assistant referee on the goalline."

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Rangers v Manchester United: Dimitar Berbatov's lack of goals is my fault, says Sir Alex Ferguson

United’s £30.75 million record buy hasn’t scored since a hat-trick against Liverpool in September, and he was dropped for last Saturday’s Premier League match against Wigan. However, Berbatov is likely to start up front with Rooney against Rangers at Ibrox tonight, and Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News: "In fairness to Dimitar’s situation we have been changing the strikers quite a lot recently. I think I have to accept the responsibility for changing it too much. "Now we are going to have to be looking at getting consistency of performance.

"We have a lot of good young striker options who have played in a lot of games recently, but hopefully we can get Wayne back to his best and Dimitar is suited to playing with Wayne."Ferguson wants Rooney to treat his return to the United starting line-up tonight in the Champions League just like his first game of the season.

Aside from a couple of decent performances for England, Rooney endured a tepid start to the campaign, failing to score a goal in open play in a period that included some lurid allegations about his private life. Then came the mad week when it appeared the 25 year-old was intent on leaving Old Trafford before eventually signing a five-year deal, having been cut down by an ankle injury in the middle of all the furore.

Now, after a brief break in Dubai, another week's intensive conditioning work in Oregon and some time spent working at the Carrington training ground, Rooney is ready to face Rangers and show the world all his talent still remains. "Absolutely," agreed Ferguson, when asked if Rooney should regard it as a fresh start. "There is no question about that. "His fitness is good and maybe it will take two or three games but they will help to get him back as quick as we can. "But this is a high profile match, on a terrific pitch, in a great stadium with a terrific atmosphere. All the signs are plus ones, particularly for a player of Wayne's ability."

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Rangers - Manchester United Preview: Wayne Rooney starts as Red Devils aim to seal Champions League qualification

A hamstring injury rules Madjid Bougherra out of the tie, with the centre-back set to miss the next three weeks, and he joins Maurice Edu, who is suffering from a knee problem, James Beattie and Andy Webster on the sidelines.

However, there is some good news as Sasa Papac could return, despite missing Rangers’ last two games against Aberdeen and Kilmarnock with a head injury. Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Wayne Rooney will start for the visitors and he may be joined by Ryan Giggs who has recovered from a hamstring problem and is expected to be named in the squad.

Rafael remains a doubt at right-back for the visitors and Paul Scholes could also feature having begun the win against Wigan on the bench. However, expect changes from the weekend, although not perhaps the 10 United made the last time they faced Rangers.

On the brink

Rangers welcome Manchester United to Ibrox currently sitting in third place in Group C and knowing that two wins from their final two games are imperative if they are to have any chance of making the knockout stages.

Whilst the final game for the Scots is away at the group’s whipping boys Bursapor, that match will be rendered all but meaningless should they fall to defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges.

Yet Rangers will take on the Premier League outfit with confidence having held them, comfortably it must be said, to a goalless draw at Old Trafford back in September.

The Scottish champions are also unbeaten at home in the Champions League this season, Bursaspor were despatched 1-0 and Valencia were held to a 1-1 draw.

Whilst the point against the Spaniards appeared a good result, the Scots will surely rue that draw now as had it not been for a Maurice Edu own goal and some profligate finishing from Kenny Miller, the Gers would have secured a vital win and with it a real chance of making the knockout stages.

Out to make a point

The visitors, meanwhile, sit top of the group with 10 points and only need a draw to confirm their progression having beaten Bursaspor home and away and Valencia at the Mestalla following their opening draw to Rangers.

Sir Alex Ferguson opted to field virtually a reserve side for the reverse fixture but may look for a more experienced line-up and will hope for a better outcome from the game at Old Trafford that was notable not for the drab football on show, but for the horrific injury suffered by Antonio Valencia.

While the Red Devils have rarely hit the heights this season, they are still unbeaten, and with eight wins from their last nine away games in the Champions League, will be favourites to depart Glasgow with their progression to the next round safely ensured.

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Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United

Liverpool’s centre half, Martin Skrtel, had been forced to withdraw from Slovakia's team due to injury. The centre-back has been struggling with knee and ankle problems since his club's 2-0 defeat at Stoke on Saturday, when he had to take pain-killers to complete the match. Skrtel had therefore decided not to play in the international friendly and informed Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss that he was better off staying in England. The 25-year-old will now aim to regain full fitness for Liverpool's crucial match against West Ham at Anfield on Saturday.

Martin Skrtel said: "I've had problems with my knee and ankle (since the Stoke game). Before half-time, one of the opposing players kicked me in the knee from behind and I had to finish the game under pain-killers. Besides that, I also twisted my ankle, which has been haunting me since a friendly game against Costa Rica in June."

Liverpool will welcome London side, West Ham United, at Anfield for the 14th game of their Barclays Premier League campaign. Liverpool top the bottom half of the Premier League table and will be looking to move into the top half of the table with a win.

Manchester City:

The Citizens assistant manager David Platt has launched a spirited defence of his boss, Roberto Mancini. The Manchester City manager has come under fire for being taking too defensive an approach after successive goalless draws. The Manchester City faithful reacted by chanting "What is going on" when their manager opted to replace a striker with defensive midfielders towards the end of City’s latest stalemate against Birmingham. It seemed a pointless move, given an attacker was also present on the bench at that moment.

However, Platt was quick to reject any notion of Mancini being a defensive coach.

Platt said that it was wrong for people to judge the coach by saying he was defensive. He added, "He isn't (defensive), in any way, shape or form. It is too easy to look at it and say you have taken a striker off and put a midfield player on. It isn't a computer game. We more or less camped out in the Birmingham half for the majority of the second half. "

Despite Manchester City’s two consecutive draws, the Citizens are well placed in fourth spot in Premier League table, just three points behind their fierce-rivals Manchester United.

Manchester United:

Preston North End has agreed a deal with Manchester United for the loan signing of defender Ritchie de Laet. Ritchie de Laet joins two fellow United players at the Lancashire club. Manager Darren Ferguson moved swiftly to secure his services, after Sean St Ledger and Callum Davidson both picked up knocks against Hull City last Friday. The length of the deal is yet to be agreed between the clubs but the versatile defender will be included in the squad for Saturday's trip to Queens Park Rangers.

Darren said: "We've agreed a deal with United for Ritchie de Laet - it's been sanctioned by them. We've just got to finalise the length of the loan then everything will be done. He's joining us for training and will be available for the QPR game. Ritchie is a versatile defender; he spent a month on loan with Sheffield United recently so he knows the Championship."

Manchester United signed De Laet from Stoke City in January 2009, and has made three Premier League starts for the Red Devils.

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