The Hindu : Sport / Football : Another draw for Manchester United

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

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Sport - Football

Another draw for Manchester United

LONDON, AUG. 31. Manchester United's stuttering start to the season continued with a 0-0 tie with Everton at Old Trafford on Monday with the two clubs also in transfer talks over the sale of England star Wayne Rooney.

Although Cristiano Ronaldo and Alan Smith hit the Everton post, the Reds failed to hit the target in front of their own fans and fell further behind Arsenal and Chelsea, who have each started the season with four wins out of four.

Alex Ferguson, who hopes to sign 18-year-old Rooney from Everton within the next few days, has seen his team collect just five points from four games. That leaves United seven from its two big title contenders back in ninth place.

Defending champion Arsenal took its record streak of league games without defeat to 44 by beating promoted Norwich City 4-1 on Saturday while Chelsea edged Southampton 2-1.

The Gunners lead the Blues on goal difference with both London clubs on 12 points from four games. The two teams are three points clear of Bolton which beat Liverpool 1-0 on Sunday.

On the day Newcastle fired Bobby Robson after a dismal start of two losses and two ties, United also appears to be struggling to find any form.

No improvement

Ferguson's team has won just one of its opening four games and, with Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy yet to kick a ball this season because of injury, captain and midfielder general Roy Keane out with broken ribs and defender Rio Ferdinand suspended until the middle of next month, there seems no sign of any improvement.

United again fielded its two Americans, goalkeeper Tim Howard and Jonathan Spector, and the 18-year-old midfielder almost broke the deadlock early in the second half with a surging run and a shot that flashed past the post.

Everton made strong appeals for a penalty when United defender Mikael Silvestre appeared to handle a cross from Lee Carsley but referee Dermot Gallagher saw nothing wrong.

"I thought it was a penalty kick," said Everton manager David Moyes. "It was a handball. "There should have been another one when Duncan (Ferguson) was pushed."

Portsmouth wins

Monday's other game was a thriller as Portsmouth edged Fulham 4-3 at Fratton Park.

Pompey raced into a 3-0 lead inside 28 minutes, Israeli midfielder Eyal Berkovic shooting Harry Redknapp's lead ahead followed by two strikes by Nigerian striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu. But Andy Cole and Luis Boa Morte scored twice in three minutes to cut the lead before half time.

Yakubu completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute but Fulham's United States international wingback Carlos Bocanegra made it 4-3 three minutes later with a header. Portsmouth's first victory of the season lifted the team from next to last to 11th.

Exit Robson

Meanwhile, Robson's spell with Newcastle — just four days short of five years — ended when the club announced it had fired the 71-year-old manager.

Former England captain Alan Shearer, who was surprisingly left on the bench by Robson for Saturday's 4-2 loss at Aston Villa, was being touted as a successor.

In Monday's action in the League Championship, Wigan Athletic remained a point clear by beating Cardiff 2-1 and Joe Royle's Ipswich edged struggling Wolves 2-1 to stay second.

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