SHREWSBURY TOWN 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0 It was a case of near and yet so far for Oldham Athletic as they began 2018 with an unlucky loss at high-flying Shrewsbury Town. Latics felt they ought to have been awarded a late penalty that would have given them the chance for a share of the spoils. […]
Captain Pogba drives Manchester United to first league win in four games at rainswept Everton
EVERTON 0, MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Paul Pogba put in a captain’s performance in the second half as Manchester United dug deep and fired two goals by Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard past a stubborn Everton side in their first fixture of 2018 at Goodison Park – their first Premier League win in four games.
Pogba captained United with Ashley Young suspended after accepting a FA violent conduct charge for elbowing Dusan Tadic during the Southampton game. Marcus Rashford, who Mourinho claimed was tired after the game against the Saints, was on the bench as Anthony Martial led the line for the Reds.
Everton’s eight match unbeaten run had come to an end at Bournemouth last Saturday when they lost 2-1 to a late Ryan Fraser winner but Manchester United had only won once in their last five visits to Goodison Park, a 3-0 win two seasons ago under previous Reds boss Louis Van Gaal. Wayne Rooney had played the second half in the Bournemouth game after a spell out of the side with illness.
Two of the goalscorers the last time United beat Everton at Goodison Park are now on Everton’s books – Rooney and Morgan Schneiderlin, while Ander Herrera had been out of favour recently but returned to the starting lineup as part of three changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Southampton – Marcos Rojo, Herrera, and Anthony Martial came in for suspended Young, injured Romelu Lukaku, and out-of-sorts Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Everton made seven changes.
Manchester City’s winning run comes to an end at Crystal Palace as Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne are stretchered off
CRYSTAL PALACE 0, MANCHESTER CITY 0
There was late drama at Selhurst Park as Luka Milivojevic’s injury time penalty was saved by Ederson in one of the most eventful goalless matches at Crystal Palace as Manchester City’s 18 game winning run came to an end in South London.
Unlike many teams coming up against City, Crystal Palace had a real go and made a game of it at Selhurst Park but City, who lost Gabriel Jesus to a serious looking knee injury early on and Kevin De Bruyne in injury time, could not find a way past their hosts who – in contrast with other teams facing City recently – played a full part in an absorbing game against Pep Guardiola’s team in the first half.
City had hit the woodwork through Sergio Aguero and were denied by last ditch defending and Wayne Hennessey saves while Palace could have snatched a late goal from eight yards in the second half before the injury time drama.
City ended the year on 59 points having dropped their first Premier League points on the road this season, 14 ahead of nearest rivals Chelsea, but will worry about the fitness of Jesus and De Bruyne with a full set of January fixtures ahead.
Oldham Athletic lack cutting edge as they are held at home by Bristol Rovers
OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, BRISTOL ROVERS 1 Oldham Athletic snapped their two match losing run, in Sky Bet League One but were disappointed to be held at home by Bristol Rovers. They had a highly commendable 26 goal attempts, but managed to find the net only once. And that was from a Craig Davies penalty that […]
Fans vent their frustration as Manchester United are held at home by Southampton
MAN UNITED 0, SOUTHAMPTON 0
The reaction of Manchester United’s fans summed up another frustrating performance as they were held at home by Southampton.
There were boos and jeers at both half and full time as United slipped from second to third place and 14 points behind Manchester City who can tomorrow extend their lead to 17 if they win at Crystal Palace.
This was United’s third successive draw after being held by Leicester and Burnley as they have hit a worrying dip in form.
Whereas not long ago they were well clear in second spot, suddenly a top-four place is under threat.