Post by Scott on Feb 26, 2008 22:30:06 GMT
Gary Neville completed an hour in his latest comeback from injury, but couldn’t prevent a strong Liverpool side virtually ending United’s title hopes in controversial fashion.
Goals from Xavi Alonso and Harry Kewell sealed the points for the hosts, but United will feel aggrieved at having two goals incorrectly chalked off at key times in the match.
Neville lined up at right back for United, alongside Gerard Pique, Danny Simpson and Richard Eckersley in a strong defence. Liverpool also handed outings to Daniel Agger, Kewell and Alonso in a bid to hone their match fitness.
A massive crowd of 10,546 crammed into the Halliwell Jones Stadium to provide a belting atmosphere throughout the match, with Neville's return prompted very different responses from the two sets of fans.
Only 12 minutes had elapsed when the home contingent were given something more positive to shout about as Alonso opened the scoring, converting a penalty won by Krisztian Nemeth at the expense of Pique.
Alonso and Nemeth both came close to extending the hosts’ advantage but, in a first half hampered by swirling winds and a dreadful pitch, chances were scarce for United.
Substitute Martin Skrtel headed against the crossbar shortly after the interval, before Chris Eagles had home goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis scrambling to tip over his opportunistic 50-yard effort.
Eagles did then have the ball in the net on the hour mark, only for play to be called back after Pique was incorrectly ruled offside during the build-up. Neville then left the field to be replaced by James Chester, showing no ill-effects for his runout.
The visitors continued to enjoy some promising build-up play, but were indebted to Heaton with 20 minutes remaining, as he produced a miraculous close-range save to keep out Jay Spearing’s half-volley.
United's hopes of finding a route back into the match were seemingly ended when Richard Eckersley was sent off for a second bookable offence with four minutes remaining, although his second caution - for a tug on Harry Kewell's shirt - was questionable.
The Reds' sense of injustice was further heightened when they were denied a clear goal with two minutes remaining. Simpson turned Eagles' cross over the line with a scuffed diving header, only for the referee to somehow rule that Bouzanis had kept the ball out.
In the same passage of play, Kewell broke down the other end and curled a finish beyond Heaton's despairing dive to seal the result, but quite how Simpson's goal didn't stand remains a mystery.
Ultimately United were left to rue those disallowed strikes, with Liverpool opening a nine point lead over Brian McClair and Jim Ryan's side and games fast running out.
United: Heaton; Neville (Chester 61), Eckersley, Pique (Macheda, 68), Simpson; Cleverley, Hewson, Possebon, S Evans (Bryan, 73); Eagles, Welbeck.
Subs not used: Zieler, Jones.
Goals from Xavi Alonso and Harry Kewell sealed the points for the hosts, but United will feel aggrieved at having two goals incorrectly chalked off at key times in the match.
Neville lined up at right back for United, alongside Gerard Pique, Danny Simpson and Richard Eckersley in a strong defence. Liverpool also handed outings to Daniel Agger, Kewell and Alonso in a bid to hone their match fitness.
A massive crowd of 10,546 crammed into the Halliwell Jones Stadium to provide a belting atmosphere throughout the match, with Neville's return prompted very different responses from the two sets of fans.
Only 12 minutes had elapsed when the home contingent were given something more positive to shout about as Alonso opened the scoring, converting a penalty won by Krisztian Nemeth at the expense of Pique.
Alonso and Nemeth both came close to extending the hosts’ advantage but, in a first half hampered by swirling winds and a dreadful pitch, chances were scarce for United.
Substitute Martin Skrtel headed against the crossbar shortly after the interval, before Chris Eagles had home goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis scrambling to tip over his opportunistic 50-yard effort.
Eagles did then have the ball in the net on the hour mark, only for play to be called back after Pique was incorrectly ruled offside during the build-up. Neville then left the field to be replaced by James Chester, showing no ill-effects for his runout.
The visitors continued to enjoy some promising build-up play, but were indebted to Heaton with 20 minutes remaining, as he produced a miraculous close-range save to keep out Jay Spearing’s half-volley.
United's hopes of finding a route back into the match were seemingly ended when Richard Eckersley was sent off for a second bookable offence with four minutes remaining, although his second caution - for a tug on Harry Kewell's shirt - was questionable.
The Reds' sense of injustice was further heightened when they were denied a clear goal with two minutes remaining. Simpson turned Eagles' cross over the line with a scuffed diving header, only for the referee to somehow rule that Bouzanis had kept the ball out.
In the same passage of play, Kewell broke down the other end and curled a finish beyond Heaton's despairing dive to seal the result, but quite how Simpson's goal didn't stand remains a mystery.
Ultimately United were left to rue those disallowed strikes, with Liverpool opening a nine point lead over Brian McClair and Jim Ryan's side and games fast running out.
United: Heaton; Neville (Chester 61), Eckersley, Pique (Macheda, 68), Simpson; Cleverley, Hewson, Possebon, S Evans (Bryan, 73); Eagles, Welbeck.
Subs not used: Zieler, Jones.