Squarefootball Diary; Red Ryan Gets Ten; Blues And Royals Dead Men; End For Sven?
Squarefootball Diary - Sunday May 11 2008
Manchester United are Premier League champions once more following a 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic. A first half Cristiano Ronaldo penalty is the Portuguese’s 31st league goal of the campaign, and comes after Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes each benefit from the leniency of referee Steve Bennett. Ferdinand appears to handle a Jason Koumas drive before the previously yellow-carded Scholes performs a blatant obstruction on Wilson Palacios. Yet United seize control in the second half and it is little surprise when Ryan Giggs makes certain of his 10th league winners medal 10 minutes from time. Sir Alex is already looking towards the Champions League final clash with Chelsea in 10 days time;
“If we had lost the title today it would have been a great knock but the great thing is we are bouncing into the final.” he comments.
A win for United turns out to be more than enough as Chelsea can only earn a draw at home to Bolton Wanderers. Andriy Shevchenko comes off the bench to net a rare league goal, but Matt Taylor’s equaliser ensures that Chelsea finish two points behind their title rivals;
“United had a great season, played very well and are champions.” observes Chelsea boss Avram Grant;
“I especially want to congratulate Sir Alex Ferguson. He is a great manager and a great person.” he adds.
Reading’s Second Season Syndrome proves terminal despite a 4-0 win at Derby County. Goals from James Harper, Dave Kitson, Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita are in vain as Fulham get the win they need to send the Royals down along with Birmingham City. Blues also slip out of the top flight despite handing Blackburn Rovers a 4-1 hammering at St.Andrews. Meanwhile, the Cottagers need a Danny Murphy header 14 minutes from time against Portsmouth to complete their remarkable escape;
“Fulham have earned the right to still be in this league, no doubts.” admits Reading boss Steve Coppell, while Blues boss Alex McLeish isn‘t going overboard with grief;
“I'm disappointed obviously that other results didn't go our way but we had no control over that.” he shrugs;
“It was a pleasing performance today and we did all we could.”
And so it is Fulham who win the lottery, with manager Roy Hodgson sparing a thought for his rivals;
“It is sad for Reading and Birmingham - they have all my sympathy tonight. You read headlines that we were dead people walking and waiting for the season to end. But we have done much better than that and done it by playing well and working hard.” he continues, by now gloating just a touch.
The other main issue to be resolved is that of who will get to blame the UEFA Cup on their poor league form next term. That honour is bestowed on Everton following a 3-1 win over Newcastle United at Goodison Park. Aiyegbeni Yakubu opens the scoring for the Toffeemen but a Michael Owen penalty evens things up. Joleon Lescott’s 400th goal of the season puts his side in front before Yakubu’s second seals the deal eight minutes from time;
“We deserved to finish fifth, we have been in the top five since the new year and we finished on a good note.” insists Everton manager David Moyes, while Toon boss Kevin Keegan isn’t changing tack on his thoughts about a top four finish for his side next term;
“If Everton can finish fifth, why can't we?” he asks;
“We have a bigger stadium and more fans, but they all play for each other.” he points out, perhaps answering his own question.
The Toffeemen take fifth place by five points from Aston Villa in the end after Martin O’Neill’s side can only draw 2-2 at West Ham United. Behind to Nolberto Solano’s opener Villa fight back to lead through Ashley Young and Gareth Barry. Dean Ashton’s goal two minutes from time end their feint hopes, but O’Neill is already looking forward to his side’s Intertoto Cup campaign;
“We're in the Intertoto Cup for definite now, which means we have to play 17 games in the middle of June!” he quips, which if true would put a serious dampener on his plans to dazzle us all with his plodding punditry during Euro 2008.
On any other day Manchester City’s 8-1 mauling at Middlesbrough would be somewhat further up the news agenda. In a game billed as Sven Goran Eriksson’s last in charge of the Eastlands club the Swede sees his side go down to 10 men with the dismissal of Richard Dunne, and also has to suffer an Afonso Alvez hat-trick, a Steward Downing brace (now that is news!), and further goals from Jeremie Aliadiere, Adam Johnson and Fabio Rochemback. City’s only reply comes from early season flat-track bully Elano;
“We were in the game until it was 3-0.” says Sven;
“After that, mentally we had nothing left. We were not even on the pitch - the team had totally gone and it was embarrassing for everyone.”
There are also last day wins for Premier League pretenders Arsenal and Liverpool, who beat Sunderland 1-0 and Tottenham 2-0 respectively.
The scramble to replace the Readings and Birminghams of this world has begun in earnest, with Hull City taking a 2-0 first leg advantage at Watford. Nicky Barmby puts the Humbersiders in front before Dean Windass heads a second.
In League Two’s play-offs Wycombe Wanderers are held to a 1-1 draw by Stockport County.
North of the border Celtic keep the pressure on Rangers with a 2-0 win over Hibernian. Gordon Strachan’s side find themselves playing against nine men when both Martin Canning and Ian Murray are dismissed, and ease to victory with goals from Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald;
“It was a terrific game, and it shows that at this time of year you can still play good football.” says Strachan, clearly more used to a bit of snow or hail.
By Stephen Orford
11 May 2008
