If familiarity breeds comtempt no one has told Martin O'Neil. This was the third meeting between the two sides in 23 days and despite 3 defeats the Villa manger had praise for Ronaldo before this game and Scholes afterwards.
The previous meeting was a tight one with a goalkeeping error being the deciding factor in injury time while this was game was over with 35 minutes gone. There was always the fear that a manager of O'Neil's ability may be able to find a way to neutralise United after having to face them in so short a period of time, but this was not to be.
Park opened the scoring, the Villa defence failing to clear their lines after his initial shot, allowing him to lash the ball home at the second time of asking. After Carrick set up the initial goal, Park returned the favour and Carrick teed up the ball with one touch and volleyed into the goal with his second. Carrick enforced his man of the match performance by crossing the ball in the 35th minute for Ronaldo to head in his 13th goal of the season. The game was over as a contest by half-time and even Agbonlahor's goal in the second half did little to threaten the result.
Still 6 points clear, United have much sterner tests ahead of them. Their visits to North London in the next few weeks will go a long way in showing just how serious this title push should be taken while the visits to Anfield and Stamford Bridge later in the saason could be pivotal. For the time being though, they can enjoy their performance and position at the top of the table.
No comments:
Post a Comment