Aldershot Town

Two days after the 6-1 defeat to City, United played Aldershot Town. The timing of the game was a godsend bearing in mind what had happened 48 hours earlier. Any outside hope that Aldershot would have had by pulling a shock off were evaporated by the City result. League Cup or not, there was no way Sir Alex Ferguson was going to tolerate a defeat to Aldershot in the aftermath of the City match. Everything went alright on the night. Travelling United fans weren’t extorted on the ticket price, United won 3-0 without getting into third gear and 4,000 loyal, salt of the earth and local club supporting Aldershot fans went to their first and last match for ten years.

A mock up picture of Sir Alex Ferguson outside Aldershot’s Recreation Ground

Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax

As consolation prizes go for getting knocked out of the Champions League go, a trip to Amsterdam for the travelling Red army was probably about as good as it could get. After a frenzy of excited text’s bounced back and forth, harsh reality kicked when the cost of flights suddenly suddenly took off and United were allocated 2,000 tickets for a match I reckon they could’ve taken 15,000 too.

The general belief amongst the media and football people before this tie was that United would be too strong for Ajax. Over the two legs their predictions were proved right, JUST. United won the first leg comfortably after the odd scare in the first half. It was the second leg where the ultimately ignored wake up call occured. At Old Trafford, United were crusing with a 3-0 aggregate lead when Ajax suddenly took control of the match, going into a 2-1 lead with five minutes to go and giving United a very nervous ending to the tie.

Ashley Young puts United 1-0 up in Amsterdam on the hour

Arsenal

Never a match or a team to be taken lightly, Arsenal came to Old Trafford and gave a defensive display so bad that it looked like they’d never met each other before never mind played. Arsenal were lucky United only scored eight, there was at least four other good chances that United had, which were spurned. Predictably the return fixture at Ashburton Grove was a lot tighter but even then, it would’ve been a travesty if United wouldn’t have won.

Arsenal are so unpredictable that next season, I wouldn’t be surprised if they come to Old Trafford and deservedly won. As their results have shown this season, they can comfortably and deservedly beat AC Milan, City and Tottenham at home and Liverpool & Chelsea away for good measure then lose at QPR, Fulham, Wigan and draw at home to Wolves. I have no problem admitting that I enjoy watching their matches as a neutral if they’re on the telly. This season they took part in two classic matches that I can quickly recall when they beat Chelsea 5-3 at Stamford Bridge and lost 3-2 to Swansea at the Liberty Stadium. On their day, they’re a great side but they have too many off days to be in serious contention for anything other than a knockout cup. They remind me of the United side’s of the 1980′s that Ron Atkinson managed, great to watch but they don’t win a fraction of the silverware that they should.

Ashley Young makes it 3-0 against Arsenal last August

Aston Villa

On the both occasions United played Aston Villa this season, Villa were garbage. Disjointed, dispirited and mostly disposessed. With Villa losing their star striker, Darren Bent to a season ending injury in late February coupled with the loss of Ashley Young last summer and throw into the mix the fact that the team were managed by the now dismissed Alec McCleish, a man the Villa fans clearly despised means that Villa park is not a happy place. I’m glad they didn’t go down purely because it’s a great away trip with an abundance of welcoming pubs and the match is played in one of the best stadia in the country. If there’s one first prize Aston Villa can claim it’s that through the West Midlands Police force, their stadium is policed by the biggest load of officious, supercilious and belligerent wankers that any travelling red has had the misfortune to come across.

The Villa Park crowd, Aston Villa and Manchester United players have a minutes applause in memoriam of Gary Speed on the 3rd of December 2011.

Athletic Club (Bilbao)

This was a rude awakening. Nobody was silly enough to think Athletic Club were mugs but there was enough confidence flying around before the match that some United fans, myself included, were looking at potential itineraries for a few days in Bucharest come early May. Until this night, Man City had given the best opposition performance I’d seen at Old Trafford since Red Star Belgrade had come and played United off the pitch in November 1991. By the end of the Old Trafford match against Athletic Club, City weren’t even the best side I’d seen at Old Trafford this season. Just in case nobody had noticed the warning signs that were evident against Basle earlier in the season or even Ajax, two weeks before this fixture, Athletic Club came to Old Trafford and firmly put United in their place. That United only lost 3-2 on the night and 5-3 over the two legs is an anomaly. The peformance that Athletic gave a week later in the San Mamés was if anything and if possible, even more emphatic. The most worrying thing about the performances against Athletic Club is that they were thrashed as comprehensively in the Europa League final as the the beating they gave United. Where the hell does that leave us ?

Wayne Rooney scoring for United in the San Mamés

Fussball Club Basel 1893

The Basel match at Old Trafford was United at their most complacent and arrogant worst. Apparently cruising 2-0 at half time with two goals in rapid succesion from Danny Welbeck, Basel who’d shown in the first half that they were not to be taken lightly hit back with two goals in equally quick succesion on the hour from Fabian Frei and his none related near namesake, Steven Gerrards old pal, Alexander Frei. A soft penalty conceded by Antonio Valencia allowed Alexander Frei to put Basel deservedly 3-2 up before Ashley Young saved a point and some face for United in the 88th minute. United were unlucky to lose the return game in Basel but the main damage for Uniteds ambitions for the Champions League was done at Old Trafford against Basel, the defeat at the St. Jakob-Park  just sealed it.

Phil Jones scores in Basel for the second match in succesion

Sport Lisboa e Benfica

After Uniteds rampant start to the season, the away game to Benfica was the first sign that United weren’t the world beaters they’d look like until then. United started defensive mindedly against an originally terrified Benfica side in Lisbon. Once Benfica realised that they weren’t gonna get obliterated they gained confidence and deservedly took the lead with a great swivelling volley from Oscar Cardozo halfway through the first half. Ryan Giggs equalised with another great goal just before half time but United could do nothing else in the second half. In the return game at Old Trafford, suicidal defending against Benfica cost United in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw. It’s as much performances against Benfica than against Basle that cost United in the Champions League this season. Benfica are not a bad side but they shouldn’t be knocking United out of a European competition.

An early Phil Jones own goal puts Benfica 1-0 up in the match at Old Trafford

Blackburn Rovers

A nasty shock came United’s way on New Years Eve when Blackburn deservedly won at Old Trafford. Although Blackburn were in a self destructive mess when they turned up at Old Trafford, they had only a few days before ground out a point at Anfield. With United scoring five in succesive matches prior to Blackburns visit, most people expected a cricket score against a beleagured side. Blackburn who played their traditonal spoiling game were full of fight and bluster for the match, going two up then scoring a winner from a David De Gea mistake after a Dimtar Berbatov brace brought it back to 2-2.

At the return game at Ewood Park, Blackburn were as usual stubborn and difficult to break down. Lethargy and a stroke of genius from Antonio Valencia in the last ten minutes set United off to a 2-0 win. As for Blackburn, I’m not at all sorry to see them go down. I can’t understand anybody outside their tiny core of support who will be, most people in Blackburn can’t be arsed with them from what I can see. A club that has thousands of empty seats for the visit’s of United, Arsenal etc have no place in the top league. Then you have the Blackburn fans that do go, they who conduct a witchhunt against their manager that what have the Ku Klux Klan shaking their heads at the severity of it. After having the title bought for them by an embittered benefactor, the chickens (sponsored by Venkys)have now well and truly come home to roost. Good riddance Blackburn, don’t be rushing back. Cluck fuckin’ cluck

Grant Hanley heads Blackburns winner on New Years Eve after a David De Gea mistake

Bolton Wanderers

An early season 5-0 romp in what is sometimes a tricky away match was a sign of how poor Bolton are as a side. United were 3-0 up within 25 minutes and the reds went into cruise control for the rest of the match. . The return match at Old Trafford was a far more tense affair. Bolton were never in any danger of winning the match but they managed to do what they do best and stifle the match until first half injury time. Paul Scholes started the ball rolling in with his first goal for United after his return from his sabbatical.

I’m glad Bolton have been relegated and are now back where they truly belong taking their streaky haired, moustachioed four fingered Munich singing fans with them. Them and their nearby cousins/lovers from Blackburn are in their correct place, like Blackburn, I hope they’re not in any rush to get back. The Premier League will cope just fine without them

Paul Scholes breaks the deadlock against Bolton Wanderers in January

Chelsea

The most intriguing thing about Chelsea at the start of this season was to watch how new manager Andre Villas Boas handled the more senior players and the powerful clique that they’ve fostered. They had already seen off a pretty robust character in Felipe Scholari. the most obvious thing to me was that while Villas Boas is very intelligent man who clearly knows his football, he was too callow and ill equipped to deal with the cesspit of poison at Chelsea which revolves around their senior players. From where I’m standing, this is a great thing. As daft as it sounds, it seems that players like Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry have got a place in the first team for as long as they want. At least three of them four players just mentioned are past it.

Chelsea were blown away at Old Trafford in first half performance which at the time looked like echoing the massacre of Arsenal two weeks prior. In the end United took their foot off the pedal in the second half. Fernando Torres scored a brilliant goal for Chelsea in the 46th minute but what the game will forever be remembered for is the open goal miss he did with five minutes to go. At Stamford Bridge, United found themselves 3-0 down before two Rooney penalties and a late header from Hernandez secured a draw. It was the very least United deserved. There was a lot of frustration in the end that United didn’t win the game. Normally when I hear people saying that, after United have recovered a 3-0 deficit, I’d tell them to get over themselves but this time, I agreed. Chelsea were there for the taking and United should have won the game.

August 2011 was the first pre-season since the summer of 2003 where it was obvious that Chelsea had no chance of winning the title. At the other end of the season the Chelsea side are showing no signs, bar the signing of Gary Cahill that there’s any handover of personell. The fact that they won both the FA Cup and the Champions League might persuade Roman Abramovich and John Terry that there’s not much need changing there. As for Roberto Di Matteo or any near futured Chelsea manager, who cares what they think ?

The first of Wayne Rooneys three penalties against Chelsea this season, he missed this one and scored the other two

Crystal Palace

This was a United performance so bad that it prompted a rare Fergie apology. Crystal Palace played like a team who wanted to win against a United team packed with fringe players, several whom I believe signed their Old Trafford exit visa’s with this performance. Crystal Palace fully deserved this win in this League cup quarter final match, they would be knocked out by Cardiff City on penalties in the next round.

Darren Ambrose scores one of the best opposition goals I’ve ever seen at Old Trafford for Crystal Palace

Everton

The fact that this season Everton have beaten City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs as well as getting to the F.A Cup semi final is to me, testament to the brilliance of their manager, David Moyes. Operating on a net spend less than United under the Glazers and a playing budget that would’ve seen his fellow Glaswegian across Stanley Park sectioned, he has Everton in a position of stability after the turbulent decade that preceded his appointment. Everton’s conundrum is that under the present regime and financial constraints, they have next to no chance of winning anything. Everton are not a good side but as we are only too painfully aware, they have a stubborn resilience which means that you can never relax or take the foot off the pedal no matter where you are in the game with them. The fact that in consecutive seasons, United have blown two goal leads against Everton late in the game is also a show of how spirited a side they are. Last season, United got away with that carelessness, this season, well, we all know what the result of that was….

Danny Welbeck goes past Everton full back Tony Hibbert at Goodison Park in October 2011

Fulham

Craven Cottage has been in recent times, a pretty unforgiving ground for United to visit. This season in the last match before Christmas, United went to Fulham and obliterated them 5-0. The match at Old Trafford was a far more tense affair, United survived a last minute penalty shout when Michael Carrick fouled Danny Murphy. Wayne Rooney’s goal just before half time giving United a 1-0 win. Fulham are a pretty mediocre side but in Danny Murphy, Damian Duff and Clint Dempsey, they have players that can create problems if allowed to play. Should manager Martin Jol stay for next season, I’d expect Fulham to be a harder side to beat.

Michael Carrick and Danny Murphy collide in the United penalty area

Leeds United

Last September in the League Cup, a fringe United side beat Leeds United 3-0 with all three goals, two from Michael Owen and one from Ryan Giggs coming in the first half. This was slight atonement for the disgraceful United performance against Leeds in the F.A Cup at Old Trafford in January 2010.

As for Leeds, they were shit on the night, shit now and even when they have or more accurately, had a good side, they were shit. I hate Liverpool FC with a passion but I’m honest enough to admit that if they weren’t around, I’d miss the matches between United and Liverpool. Leeds have been back where they belong in the lower divisions since they were relegated in 2004, long may they stay there and then some more.

Ryan Giggs scores against Leeds and ask’s the sheep fornicators, just what was it you were saying ?

Liverpool

With Liverpool becoming this season’s League Cup Champions (© Glen Johnson), I was hoping that it should cement Kenny Dalglish’s position to finish off the destruction from which he originally did a runner from in 1991. The more pragmatic and less sentimental bostonians who’ve invested so much money into Liverpool FC were not swayed by that success, alas. Looking at the reaction of Liverpool fans being interviewed around Anfield after Dalglsh’s dismissal, one thing was abundantly clear. This was a rare unifying moment for United and Liverpool fans. Liverpool fans appeared to be distraught that king kenny had been sacked, over our end of the 62, we were equally disapointed. I’m just waiting for the howling marches and protests down Scotland Road.  Liverpool are rubbish and their more knowledgable fans know it too.

The league match at Anfield was a typical modern day Liverpool performance against United. Liverpool played above themselves yet if it wasn’t for United’s profligacy in possesion, United would’ve won comfortably. Same thing occured in the FA Cup match where United played Liverpool off the park and but for some poor finishing and at the end of the game, poor defending, United would’ve knocked Liverpool out. The match at Old Trafford finally provided a fair result in this fixture when United won 2-1. A typically frantic finish was provided after a needless free kick was conceded by Carrick and the pride of LFC, Luis Suarez score with ten minutes to go.

Every pre-season unrealistic optimism on Liverpool rears it’s head. Some football pundits and scribes with no apparent rationale, predict that Liverpool will win the title. This season there was so many Liverpool matches that ended up in a draw, the scousers ended up with a raging dose of the munchies.

For all my disdain of Liverpool FC, this is still the first fixture I look for when they’re published in June. No amount of money can buy or manufacture the rivalry we have with Liverpool. All said, I bet not even though the most biased or deluded Liverpool fan or ex-player will be tipping them for next seasons title come August.

Wayne Rooney put’s United 1-0 up against Liverpool in February

Manchester City

A lot of people who witnessed Mike Summerbee make a complete berk of himself on the television after the Old Trafford derby of 2010/2011 forgot one very prophetic thing he said that afternoon when he stated with some vigour that “we’ll come here soon and turn these over“. As good as his word, City returned in October and gave a devastating performance in possesion and counter attacking football, Yaya Toure and David Silva in particular outstanding in City’s 6-1 win.

After City blew a 2-0 lead against United in the Community Shield, I wrongly thought that it was the usual City getting gobby but having no bottle. The August bank holiday weekend made me think again when they thrashed a very good Tottenham side 5-1 at White Hart Lane. City began the season playing well and looking good despite the hiccup of ceding a 2-0 lead at Craven Cottage to draw 2-2. After City won 6-1 at Old Trafford, for the second year in succesion, City fans had declared themselves league champions before the clocks went back. In the Autumn on 2010, United fans laughed at City fans getting ahead of themselves again, this season, the laughter wan’t so prominent. City fans had until then, had all the cool of a fourteen year old lad who’d been smiled at by the pretty girl in the year above.

City survived a tricky pre Christmas run with just one defeat and that was an unlucky but from my eyes, very welcome defeat at Stamford Bridge. In January, City won their first trophy of the season with their moral victory when they were beaten by United in the F.A Cup third round, they were later to complete the moral double against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League. After a dip in luck and form at the begining of the home straight, City recovered from a loss at Arsenal to win their next five games and capitalise on on a dip in United’s form. With the respective run-in that both United and City had, United should have won the title, City did and if nothing else, for that alone, City deserve to be champions. There are other reasons too but with City fans popping out of holes like a labor of moles, all my fellow reds over the summer will find out over the summer why without me going into it here.

City’s ex-captain and beloved prodigal son, Carlos Tevez show’s his class on the open top bus alongside his deliriously happy team mates who are not giving a single thought to their summer holidays 

Newcastle United

Started the season well, not losing a league game until the middle of November when they visited City, the following week they stole a draw at Old Trafford due to a penalty given by a linesman of staggering incompetence. After the United’s New Years Eve debacle at Old Trafford against Blackburn, United travelled to the Sports Direct arena and after a promising start to the game from the reds, ended up being well and deservedly beaten 3-0.

Newcastle have punched well above their weight this season and have surprised a lot of people, especially after the departure of (in my opinion) their best player, Joey Barton on as free transfer in the summer transfer window. Their goalkeeper, Tim Krul has been a revelation but also they’ve been bolstered by the excellent Demba Ba, attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa and January signing, Papiss Demba Cissé. Whether these players are one season wonders or not, remains to be seen but one thing I’m confident of is that if them players carrying playing to that form, they’ll be gone from Newcastle by the end of next season.

 Rio Ferdinand concedes a penalty against Newcastle at Old Trafford by performing a perfect tackle on Haten Ben Arfa, given by linesman/assistant referee, RAF flight-sergeant John Flynn.

Norwich City

On the surface, United did the league double over Norwich this season but in both games the canaries gave United a scare. The last minute smash and grab by Ryan Giggs has to be one of the highlights of the season for the insanity which greeted it and also it’s sheer injustice for once working in our favour. Norwich are a good side stewarded by, in Paul Lambert a good, level headed manager. I can’t see Norwich ever winning anything with him but he’ll keep them safely in the Premier League for the forseeable future if they, like Everton, Sunderland etc are happy with that. Any reds thinking of going to Norwich next season, I’d advise them to do it. Norwich is well worth a visit but do an overnighter either the day before the game or the night of the match. Going there and back in the same day feels like a flight to Sydney.

Anderson scores United’s first against Norwich last October

FC Otelul Galati

I had little to say about Otelul Galati when United played them in October and November last year, I have even less to say about them now. Two 2-0 wins for United and job done.

Antonio Valencia tussles with Adrian Salageanu of FC Otelul Galati

Queens Park Rangers

United swept QPR away in both fixtures with 2-0 wins without too much of a problem. QPR are a strange team, they beat Arsenal and Liverpool at Loftus road, the latter in a glorious 3-2 win having been two goals down. They were very unlucky to lose 3-2 to at home to an unstopable looking City side, they also lost by the same score in the return game, that was more careless. Over the two fixtures this season they didn’t pose United a single problem. If I judged them on their performances against United I’d be wondering how they stayed up. There’s obviously something more to them than they’ve shown against United. If Mark Hughes sticks around at Loftus road then they will shock a few teams next season.

Michael Carrick put’s United 2-0 up at Loftus Road

Sunderland

Sunderland gave a stubborn performance at Old Trafford in a game in which United won by an own goal in first half injury time by Wes Brown. In the return game at the Stadium of Light, United should’ve won by a cricket score but for some sloppy finishing, most memorably from Wayne Rooney. Now managed by boyhood mackem, Martin O’Neill, I expect them to a harder team to beat next season, particularly at home.

Wayne Rooney being Challenged by Sunderlands’ Lee Cattermole

  Stoke City

It has been mooted that as an experiment next season, games involving Stoke City won’t be refereed but instead monitored by an air traffic controller. The first points United dropped this season was at the atmospherically over-rated Britania stadium. On the day Stoke deserved the draw but that was down to United’s typically sloppy and complacent play when in front against a team as mediocre as Stoke. At Old Trafford on the last day of January, United went through the motions in beating a poor Stoke side with two penalties, one from Javier Hernandez and the other from Dimitar Berbatov. As for the generally well lauded Stoke City fans, anybody who boo’s Aaron Ramsey for having the temerity to suffer a compound leg fracture at their ground, like Stoke fans did, are sick. Nobody would miss this club if they went down. I said in my blog after the Stoke match that I’m grateful to my parents that I don’t come from Stoke, I repeat it here. Thanks Mam, Thanks Dad

Javier Hernandez put’s United 1-0 against Stoke up from the penalty spot

Swansea City

Managed by a young, intelligent and ambitious man from Carnlough, Swansea City have in Brendan Rogers a manager who’s gonna go a long way. With a side mostly inherited from Roberto Martinez reign, Rogers has Swansea playing the same kind of football which Martinez so stubbornly and in my opinion admirably has his teams playing. Swansea buck the trend of recently promoted teams by playing football on the floor. They took part in one of the best games I saw this this season as a neutral when they beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Liberty stadium in January. United beat Swansea with some ease in both fixtures this season but for all that, Swansea have proved that they are no mugs having beaten Arsenal and City as well as getting draws at places like Anfield and St James Park.

I didn’t go to the Liberty Stadium last November for United’s away fixture but everybody I know who did go raved about Swansea as a place. I’ll definetly be going next season, looking forward to it already

Ji Sung Park and Luke Moore battle for the ball at the Liberty Stadium in November 2011

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham are cursed playing against United. No win against United at all since May 2001, since then they have blown a three goal lead and a two goal lead in matches against United and still lost. Despite what Harry Redknapp said, they were well beaten at Old Trafford but they were robbed by United at White Hart Lane. Tottenham are a good side but how long they remain so, remains to be seen. They frequently in record time, hit the peaks and depths but one thing I do know is that when they do finally record a win against United, they’ll celebrate like they’ve won the title. I’ll forgive Tottenham that, I have and always have had a great respect for the club and the type of football they traditionally play.

As for Tottenham’s season, as per usual, promised so much without winning anything. This season they’ve had the misfortune to be in a qualifying spot for the Champions League, only to see Chelsea nick it opff them by beating Barcelona then Bayern Munich in the final. Routed by Chelsea in the FA Cup semi final with a final score which tola as many lies as goals it displayed, Tottenham also blew a two goal lead at Arsenal and lost a last minute goal away at City scored from a penalty by a player who shouldn’t have been on the pitch. The weather may be glorious but it will be a long, overcast and miserable summer at White Hart Lane

Nani goes past Luka Modric in the match at White Hart Lane

Wigan Athletic

An absolute shambles pre Christmas, Wigan had been thrashed at home by Arsenal. They’d also drawn at home to Liverpool in a game that’s now better remembered for the Luis Suarez t-shirt fiasco just prior to meeting United on Boxing Day. After their performance they gave at Old Trafford, they were to my eyes, a racing cert for relegation. In the four weeks from the middle of March, they were robbed of a point at Chelsea by poor refereeing but they had deservedly beaten Liverpool at Anfield, Arsenal at Ashburton Grove, inflicted a very expensive defeat on United and clobbered a Newcastle side chasing Champions League qualification. Managed by a man who believes in playing football on the floor and a team with a lot more balls than I’d previously given credit for, my only downer on Wigan is their piss poor support. The ball’s the wrong shape for the most the towns inhabitants.

Dimitar Berbatov scores the second goal of his hat-trick against Wigan on Boxing Day

West Bromwich Albion

United’s first opponents in the Premier League this season. In the first twenty five minutes, United threatened to overwhelm West Brom at the Hawthorns with Rooney putting United into an early lead. Shane Long equalised for WBA on 37 minutes, forcing an error from United’s new and obviously nervous Spanish goalkeeper, David Dev Gea. In the end, United were lucky to beat West Brom with an own goal which came from Steven Reid after an Ashley Young cross. At the time of the return match at Old Trafford, West Brom were still celebrating their recent thrashing of their local rivals Wolves, away from home (not the first time I’ve heard that this season). They were never going to repeat that feat at Old Trafford. They played looking like a team striving for damage limitation.

Wayne Rooney takes on WBA’s Youssouf Mulumbu and Jonas Olsson

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves had a chance of staying up until they inexplicably sacked manager Mick McCarthy in late Ferbruary without having a replacement properly lined up (they would still have to pay McCarthy’s contract up). Terry Connor who took over is clearly a decent bloke but he’s also a classic number two to the manager. Popular with players with a knowledge of what really goes happens on a football pitch, like Brian Kidd, he’s just too nice a guy to be a manager.

United merely went through the motions in beating Wolves 4-1 at Old Trafford on a freezing Decmber afternoon. In the return game at Molineux, United ran riot winning 5-0 against a spirited but hapless Wolves side. I do hope Wolves come back up ASAP. The footballing romantic in me believes there should always be a place in the top league for real football clubs like Wolves, Blackpool, Notts County etc. Contrary to what a lot of post 1996 football fans believe though, there’s not much room for sentiment and romance in football.

Jonny Evans scores his first ever goal at Molineux to give United a 1-0 lead and ruin everybodies first goalscorer bets

Wayne Rooney scores to make it 1-0 on 20 minutes

There was a similar potential ending in season 2009/2010 when Wigan Athletic went to Chelsea on the last day of the season and we were hoping Chelsea would drop points while United played Stoke City at Old Trafford. As expected, United beat Stoke comfortably (4-0) but what I clearly remember is Chelsea having the decency to wrap the game up against Wigan good and early, eventually winning 8-0 to extinguish any vain hope that might have been travelling around Old Trafford. This didn’t happen today. Going into injury time with United winning 1-0 and City losing 2-1,  I wasn’t getting carried away with any premature celebrations. I’ve seen United recover too many impossible positions over the years to take anything for granted in football. We dared to dream but when word got back that Edin Dzeko had equalised for City, I had a feeling that with City throwing the kitchen sink against a beleaguered QPR, who’d been reduced to ten men, they would score. One thing that does make me proud is that SKY TV desperately searched around the United section in the Stadium of Light looking for somebody squawking - well done to all the lads and lasses who went their today and kept their bottle and dignity.

So now it comes to pass, the moment I felt in my guts coming after the Everton match at Old Trafford. This is the day I never thought I’d see, City are champions. It’s almost a relief. As John Cleese said in the 1986 film Clockwise, It’s not the despair, I can take the despair. It’s the hope I can‘t stand. The Aguero goal was a sickener but to me, the real kick in the balls came with Steven Pienaar’s late equaliser at Old Trafford three weeks ago. Despite United blowing an eight point lead, only the most red eyed United fan would deny that City aren’t worthy champions. The most annoying thing to me was that in the early part of this calendar year, United had done the hard bit and come early March, compared to City, had a very favourable run in. Having said that, any team that puts six past United at Old Trafford would deserve the title. Any title chasing team that blows a two goal lead in a home match, so close to the season’s end deserves what they ended up getting. It’s been pointed out repeatedly recently by people in the pub and on the internet that if it wasn’t for refereeing mistakes, United would’ve been four points clear of City going into this weekend. That may be true but to be clinging to straws like that is embarrassing and to my mind, the kind of behaviour that we’ve been taking the piss out of City fans for years. This is not like Blackburn in 1995 or Chelsea in 2010 when United were robbed of the title by a side who had no right winning it, this season United have only themselves to blame. All those City fans we saw jumping around outside Eastlands four years ago with tea towels wrapped around their heads have finally seen what they were dreaming of. No longer can City have the peculiar affection that the English are so good at giving to the eternal losers and that their fans have inadvertantly thrived on for years, in compensation for being shit. Welcome to our world Berties, try not to embarrass our proud city too much, from what I’ve seen over the years, I fear you will. Just remember one thing, you’ll no longer be the darling of the neutrals.

A moment of genius from Paul Scholes puts United 1-0 up 

 The journey to Old Trafford was more of a subdued stumble than my usual brisk walk. If Newcastle had got a result I’d have been skipping like a kangaroo to the ground. I drove past Old Trafford about three hours before kick off to pick up the Red Issue. When there then, the weather was glorious but the sky seemed to get more grey through the day as the blue moon rose. When the game kicked off, it had all the intensity and atmosphere of a pre-season friendly. United were frenziedly chasing the ball when it went out for throws, corners or free kicks. As laudable as it is for intent, United were trying to claw back a ten goal deficit in goal difference, it all looked like a massive case of too little too late.

Ashley Young makes it 2-0 for United on 41 minutes

Swansea City, the same Swansea City that beat Man City a couple of months ago were, contrary to Roberto Mancini’s risible claim last Monday, not easy opponents. They came to Old Trafford and tried to play their usual passing game, Nathan Dyer in particular giving Patrice Evra a headache in the first half. On 28 minutes Paul Scholes scored, diverting a Michael Carrick shot with a speed of thought that he’ll never lose. Two minutes later Javier Hernandez missed a great chance to make it 2-0 but Ashley Young on 41 minutes doubled United’s lead. In the second half, the game petered out with a stubborn Swansea defence repelling a a United attack with plenty of intent but precious little invent.

Sir Alex Ferguson with his end of season address to his subjects

Swansea fans were in great voice today. Their rendition of Evan James’s Land of My Fathers had the hairs on the back of my neck standing. They had a very funny song to the tune of Sloop John B about Scotty Sinclair and Rosie Webster but then they came out with all the usual generic bollocks about supporting their local team. United fans were understandably deflated with the result at Newcastle earlier in the day but the truth be told, barring the home game against Liverpool, the atmosphere from United fans at Old Trafford has been lamentable this season (when United fans can’t get wound up for the visit of Liverpool will be the day to really worry). Towards the end of the game, the Stretford End came up with a rousing Red flag. Originally a song adopted by United fans in the wake of the Munich  air disaster (and not originated by Chelsea despite what that pillock John Motson may say) it has become over the years, a song of defiance. It’s a bit like We’ll Support You Evermore, a song of consolation to a team that’s ultimately about to come up short. After the match, I reckon a good chunk of people who were singing the aforementioned anthems with such passion and fervour, left the ground without applauding the players on their traditional end of season lap of honour. Alex Ferguson said in the post match speech, to his adoring masses of a two thirds full stadium that Hopefully next week will be the biggest celebration of our lives. If that happens, he’ll be spot on, there’s no question about that. In the meantime, fellow Reds, especially any with a religious conviction, join me in a prayer to St Jude. AMEN

Vincent Kompany heads City into the lead in first half injury time

Unlike last October, I never felt that United were under any pressure but I also felt from about twenty minutes in that if City scored, United would be fucked. United for all the aggresion and attacking intent looked well taken care of in the final third of the pitch. United won numerous corners but as per usual this season, never looked anywhere near scoring from one, or even the corner beating the first man. Every red who know’s their stuff knows that there’s a lot of work need doing on the team this summer, amongst many other things the signing of a player who can take a fucking corner would be nice. In injury time of a first half that resembled a game of chess, for once, Chris Smalling went to sleep and allowed himself to be hustled out of his marking position by Vincent Kompany. To say it was schoolboy defending would be unfair on schoolboys. I like Smalling and every player makes mistakes but to allow a player of Kompany’s heading ability a free header from six yards was a cardinal sin.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini all smiles before the match

There was a lot of nervous anticipation in town tonight before the match. All the usual faces who you normally see at away matches were gracing (amongst others) pubs like the White Lion, Walkabout and Vera Duckworths Old Grapes pub with their presence. Having found the White Liion too packed, the walkabout with a one in-one out policy we went to the Grapes to watch the match via an Albanian TV link and a pub full of boisterous and lively reds. I only wish the lads and lasses in the Grapes tonight were out in the Commonwealth stadium supporting the lads rather than what we had in there. If any red is reading this, who went to the match please leave me a comment and let me know what the atmosphere was like in the United section as I still don’t know a soul who got a ticket for tonights match.

City fans show homage to Francis Lee and their relief that Edin Dzeko isn’t playing

In a toothless second half performance, I knew in my guts after about fifty minutes that barring a miracle, United weren’t gonna score. Rooney was playing too deep, Nani was being well taken care of and Ji Sung Park’s lack of match fitness was painfully obvious. Bringing on Welbeck, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young was too little too late. This season we’ve all seen United scratch good points from hopeless positions but tonight, United come across the best domestic side they’ve come across this season. City fans, if not their players, will now think they’ve got a hand on the title. If they don’t win it, it’ll be through a collapse that only they are capable of but one thing is for sure, if City win the title from here-on-in, they’ll have deserved it and United will only have themselves to blame.

FC United’s barrel chested skipper, Kyle Jacobs, ready to lead the men out

Due to the expulsion of Northwich Victoria from the League Division they were playing in, FC have inadevertently benefitted from the sad goings on from Vic’s eviction from their stadium, which had only officially opened in 2006. There was general discomfort amongst some FC fans over the moral meritocracy of FC’s participation in the play offs but it’s not as if they’ve qualified for the play offs from any sharp or snide practice. I would rather FC had arrived there via the route of natural qualification but I don’t think FC fans should adopt a feeling of guilt akin to that which the Catholic establishment instils.

Chorley and FC United players shake hands pre-match, following the minutes applause in memoriam of former Gigg Lane ball boy Ben Obiora

Whatever the qualms of some FC followers, one thing is for sure, the FC team went for the win today at Chorley with a gutsy and stoic performance in a cold bitter wind and a playing area under a brooding battleship grey sky, only warmed up by the constant chanting and singing of FC fans. With the score 0-0 at half time, Ciaran Kilheeney nearly scored for Chorley early in the second half with a shot from 12 yards that hit the bar. FC’s powerful striker Michael Norton who’d constantly harrassed the Chorley keeper, Russ Saunders, in the first half, got his due reward on 64 minutes when he curled a beauty from the D of the eighteen yard box into the top left corner of Saunders’ goal. Near to me in the Pilling Lane end of Chorley’s Victory Park stadium, a distress flair goes off in celebration of Norton’s fantastic goal. Ten minutes later, Chorley thought they’d equalised but the goal was disallowed for what I later found out was a handball. I originally thought it had been a very harsh offside call, one thing I do know is that the referee hadn’t originally seen the linesman’s flag as the goal wasn’t actually disallowed for at least three/four seconds; an eternity when a goal’s been scored.

FC’s Astley Mulholland replaced the excellent Carlos Roca on 75 minutes and within six minutes of his introduction, he sealed the match with a dribble and a dink to completely bamboozle the Chorley defence and another distress flare went off. By this point of the match, I’d moved from the terrace to get a cup of coffee from the still open catering stall. Standing near the segregation line, I saw two coppers, one with a long lens camera and one with a camcorder filming the Pilling Lane End, aiming for the flare. I really hope the kid who used the flare covered his face up when he held it and the miserable bastards filming it didn’t get a decent picture.

There was such a heavy police presence at the Victory stadium today that I think that any local villainy would have been well advised to take the day off. The backdrop was of an antiquated stand where FC were allocated, a sealed off grass terrace but my favourite was shower of bog roll which rained down on the rear of the Chorley goal pre-kick off. It brought back memories of the Stretford End years ago. The most stark memory of all though was the image of the Chorley skyline – basically a chimney which had somehow escaped Fred Dibnah’s cull. The chimney had the logo of Morrison’s running down the side of it, resembling drool.

Chorley skyline

Next Monday will be though without doubt, the biggest Manchester derby to have happened in my lifetime. I first went to a Maine Road derby in September 1985, shortly after City’s promotion from the second tier, for a match which United won 3-0. It was the last time United ever outnumbered City in their home ground. In them days, virtually every United fan that wanted a ticket for Maine Road, got one. Over the years, particularly since the 5-1 in September 1989, it’s been harder and harder getting tickets for City away but this match next Monday, is the first time I can say that no United fan of my aquaintance has, to my knowledge, got a ticket for the game. I don’t even know anybody who knows anybody that’s got one either. Some of the more outlandish claims have been, that tickets for the United end, have been changing hands on the black market for £800.00. Hence the sheer coincidence of the announcement that tickets have been stolen, alluded to in the last paragraph.

I can’t say for sure who’s gonna win Mondays match or the title. One thing I know is that whoever wins the title between the two Manchester clubs, the other team will spend all summer rueing a blown opportunity. City fans have recently been frantically washing the towels they threw in after their loss at Arsenal nearly three weeks ago. At the time, they tried being philosophical about United’s impending coronation. Suddenly, they were saying it’s a season too early. Absolute rubbish, City’s form in the first half of the season was that of champions, playing good football and winning games when they weren’t playing well. As for United, a dreadful performace at Wigan was compounded by losing a two goal lead to a mediocre Everton side last Sunday. I’m confident of one thing, if United defend as badly against City as they did against Everton, Monday night will be a horror show. We could have a situation where the league title is decided on goal difference for the first time since Arsenal’s magnificent win at Anfield in May 1989. SKY TV, never slow to hype up the most tedious of events, suddenly have a bona fide classic on their hands.

SKY Sports going for their usual understated subtlety

For years, City have been the cause célèbre of visiting southerners (love of the underdog), wacky students (hey, we’re ironic), groovy dudes that say cool a lot and people who finish their sentences as if asking a question ? One thing City have done brilliantly over the last twenty or so years is manage to convince people that don’t live in Manchester that they’re the most popular team/club in Manchester. If you read the backpackers bible, the lonely planet (UK edition), they claim Manchester is mostly populated by blues. 18 year old fresher students who move to Manchester for three years are given info packs making the same claim, that the lonely planet make. It’s no wonder that so many of them end up getting a slap in their first couple of weeks in Manchester. We’ve also got ex cool cat (sic) and one man 1980s crimewave, Noel Gallagher, brainwashing everybody with his cat sat on the mat staring at the moon in june lyrics and re-cycled Beatles melodies, that Manchester is blue. We have the southern dominated national media spinning the same rubbish. They know very well the truth but the truth to them in this case, dosen’t make a good story (or in any other case come to think of it). They’re quiet happy to have the world believe that Manchester is inhabited by a load of rain soaked, flat capped, half witted and downtrodden lovers of mediocrity. The subtext of the mischievous media manipulation is that mancunians are not worthy of such a great club as Manchester United. Manchester people don’t appreciate the type of football played by United or the success the club enjoy. The reason that Old Trafford is mostly populated by southern tourists, is because they’re the only people in the UK sophisticated enough to appreciate the football. To use a culinary metaphor, United are the Kobe beef compared to City’s steak and kidney pudding. Us earthy northerners don’t go for that poncey rubbish, but of course…

*To any City fans that may be reading this, a ticket tout is somebody who trades in tickets for sold out events for a premium. Obviously the only time they normally get seen at Eastlands is when there’s a rock/pop concert on 

Steven Pienaar pokes home from close range to draw Everton level (4-4)

A nervous and subdued Old Trafford had watched a poor first half end 1-1 after Nikica Jelavic had put Everton in front on 33 minutes. I couldn’t say this goal was against the run of play because the game was so scrappy, there was no run of play for it to be against. What it did was to wake United out of the previous inertia, Scholes went close a couple of minutes later from 18 yards and Wayne Rooney equalised against his boyhood club on 41 minutes.

Everton’s Nikica Jelavic rises at the far post and loops a header over the stranded David De Gea into the far corner of the Stretford End net to make it 1-0 for Everton

Coming out honours even in the second half and United finally played with some aggression. A fantastic goal from Danny Welbeck on 57 minutes calmed some nerves although it was particularly controversial with Everton fans over my right hand shoulder due to United playing on when Steven Pienaar was lying injured nearby. Three minutes later, United looked to have had the game in the bag when Nani dinked the ball over former United keeper Tim Howard. For the next five minutes, United look good for running riot but the first real doubts of the afternoons outcome arrives when Marouane Fellaini volleys past David De Gea on 67 minutes. When Wayne Rooney re-asserts Uniteds two goal lead, two minutes later, there’s a sense of relief but I knew there was a long time to go. As long as there was though and as well as Everton attacked to blow a two goal lead at home in the last ten minutes against a team as ordinary as them is sacrilegious. The most annoying thing is that as mediocre a side that Everton are, they deserved this draw.

Wayne Rooney heads United level on 41 minutes

Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt be livid about this collapse. Uniteds next match is against City at their stadium. How he can inspire confidence into United after this collapse with City now looking to have found their form again is where we’ll see his legendary man management skills come to the fore. Next weeks match at City is now far bigger than we thought it was going to be fourteen short days ago. That it’s come to this is typical United. This title run in is begining to resemble the title run in of 1992 in regards to the premature overconfidence of United fans, particularly at the Blackburn game three weeks ago.

Nani makes it 3-1 for United, seems like a lifetime ago now

One other thing I heard this week was a proposal from some United fan with more money than sense to pay for trumpets, trombones and drums to be used by reds in the mooted singing section in the newly re-vamped and re-allocated Old Trafford Paddock. When I first heard it, I thought it was a belated April fool joke but it appears that this idea is for real. While this guy might be doing this with the best of intentions, we’re United and don’t need somebody blowing a f$ck%n horn to try and get the atmosphere going. We’ll leave that to the collective of village idiots that follow England. I remember being at a match between United and Portsmouth in April 2009 where a pompey fan just over the segregation line from me, spent nearly all game blowing a cacophony into trombone, which slightly got up my nose. I intend on getting a season ticket in this section next season and if I find somebody using a trombone or trumpet near me then I’ll stick it so far up their arse they’ll be farting in the key of E#.

That should really be it but due to due to all the shenanigans going on at Northwich Victoria of such a complex nature, that it would take a book the width of a wagon wheel to properly explain, FC United have a faint chance of qualifying for the play offs. I was listening to FC’s general manager, Andy Walsh, being interviewed on Radio Manchester and he was clearly uncomfortable with the possibilty of FC United inadvertantly profiting due to the demise of one of the oldest football clubs in the world. Prior to Andy Walsh’s comments, there was a report on the goings on at Northwich that had Radio Manchester presenter, Jack Dearden so bamboozled that he was almost lost for words when he had to take control of the programme, once the report finished.

Today before the kick off at Gigg Lane, there were people handing out A4 sized red cardboard, the intention being to register protest at the going’s on at Northwich Vics. On the 18th and 74th minute of the match, to symbolise the year of 1874, the year of Northwich Vics formation,  fans of both FC and Northwich Vics in a show of solidarity, conscientiously held up the red cardboard as requested. The pragmatist in me wonders what good if any will come of the protest due to my belief that the hard faced bastards who have placed Northwich Vics in such peril, will not be too concerned that a crowd of 2542 proles expressed dismay or anger at what’s going on. Nobody will be happier than me if I’m proved wrong on this.

Red cards held up by FC United fans in solidarity with Northwich Victoria followers

As stated before, FC demolished an apparently demoralised Northwich Vics team 4-1. FC were 2-0 up at half time. On 24 minutes, Jake Cotteral smashed in a half volley from six yards and nine minutes later Stephen Johnson made it 2-0 for FC despite howling protest from Vics keeper Ben Hinchliffe. A goalmouth scramble akin to what’s seen on Turn Moss ever Sunday morning and a howler from Vics keeper helped Matthew Wolfenden make it 3-0 for FC three minutes into the second half. Fifteen minutes later, Wolfenden got his second of the afternoon and from this stage, FC took their foot off the pedal. Ryan Clarke did claw a consolation goal for a well beaten Northwich late in the match.

FC United’s Stephen Johnson being challenged by Northwich midfielder Tom Field. Picture: Paul Simpson

Today’s match programme at FC had, amongst other things, an interview with Man Uniteds poet laureate Eric Cantona. A man who speaks with a prose similar to Bob Dylan and has the rebellious iconoclasm of John Lennon & Morrissey, anybody who knows me knows I can’t give any higher praise, this was a great coup for FC to have this interview in their programme. As you’d probably expect, it was a great interview. I’m not going to repeat any quotes from Eric here, if you want to read it then buy the programme from the link below, while you can.

http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=16_85&sort=20a&page=4

Ashley Young tripped by Ciaran Clark to gain a penalty for United

Within a minute of kick off, ex City midfielder Steven the truth Ireland fed Andreas Weimann into a tight angled one on one with David De Gea. United’s Spanish keeper saved with confidence. Eight minutes later Wayne Rooney beats the excellent Shay Given from another contoversially proccured penalty won by Ashley Young. Consensus amongst peer reds is split over the validity of the penalty, what everybody agrees on though is that it came at the right time to relax a jittery Old Trafford crowd.

Danny Welbeck makes the score 2-0 after comical Aston Villa defending

United played well today, not brilliant but with composure and confidence. It wasn’t until some very charitable Villa defending gifted Danny Welbeck a goal in the 43rd minute that virtually sealed the game for United. At 1-0 you’re always vulnerable no matter who you’re playing but a two goal lead against a side as poor and lacking in confidence as Aston Villa was never gonna be wasted. Wayne Rooney didn’t have a good game yet still scored twice today. He was substituted immediately after scoring United’s third on 74 minutes, replaced by the summer departing Dimtar Berbatov. Nani who replaced Ashley Young in the 61st minute gave the match a somewhere near correct final score when he slid the ball under Shay Given on his near post into the Stretford End in the 3rd minute of injury time.

Nani make’s it 4-0 in injury time

Today United carried out the controversial experiment to place the away fans in the third tier of United road. Friends of mine who are season ticket holders in the third tier told me that the atmosphere was fantastic up there. Where I’m positioned in the ground, in the old B Stand is literally next to where the away fans are normally situated. If nothing come’s of this experiment then I’m at least grateful to the powers that be at Old Trafford for sparing me the harrowing prospect of having 2/3,000 Villa fans stood/sat next to me. Aston Villa fans are the epitome of anti-melody, wit to a Villa fan is a week at the end of May. A lot of my fellow reds are against the idea of shifting the away fans up into the third tier but, as I elaborated on in a blog about four weeks ago, I’m fully in favour of the idea. I won’t miss having mono idea away fans next to me spouting the usual tedious bollocks about supporting their local team (without singing any songs in support of them) and shall we sing a song for you which they do in endlessly in their predominately home counties accents. I would miss the schadenfreude I indulged in when looking into the eyes of the gutted, hateful and screwed up faces of scousers when Wayne Rooney made it 2-0 against Liverpool in January. For all the joy that moment bought though, the loss of it will be a small price to pay if we can get both ends of Old Trafford rocking.

The 25th anniversary cover of Red News, the first United fanzine.

Today the 25th anniversary celebratory edition of Red News was on sale to United fans walking down Warwick Road. When it first kicked off there was competition from excellent fanzines from other clubs such as Liverpools Through the wind and the rain, West Ham’s Fortune’s Always Hiding and Sunderlands A love supreme. Even though the late 80s/early 90s fanzine boom has died off, United  to this day have a thriving fanzine scene with three completely different but brilliant fanzines in the shape of Red News, Red Issue and United We stand. All three are in their own way, compelling reading which have all carved out their niche and I hope that in this increasingly digitalised age, they stay around for a long time.

On paper, Sir Alex Ferguson picked a very aggresive United team tonight with Wayne Rooney partnering  Javier Hernandez up front and Ashley Young joining ex Wigan player Antonio Valencia running the flanks. In theory and on recent form, it boded well. It didn’t take long for paper and theory to be blown away. Wayne Rooney was being run too deep, Javier Hernandez was displaying the signs of second season syndrome that I’ve heard mutterings about recently, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia were having difficulty crossing the ball when there was nobody in the box to cross it too. On 30 minutes United were given notice of how the night was working out when Victor Moses had a goal correctly ruled out because of a completely unneccesary foul on United keeper David de Gea by  Gary Caldwell. It was a stupid foul to commit as it was the cause of an otherwise perfectly good goal, to be disallowed. Oh to be a fly on wall in the City stands at half time where all the conspiracy theorist’s and amateur Roosvelts & Harold Wilson’s would’ve been warbling on about how United have got referees and the FA in their pockets.

Gary Caldwell fouls David De Gea to cause Victor Moses goal to be disallowed

Four minutes into the second half, Wigan were given a corner that should never have been and scored from it due to an excellent finish by Shaun Maloney. Whilst it was a poor decision, it was no more than Wigan deserved. The half time rocket up the arse that we had expected Fergie to have given the United team was clearly not working. Even at the early stage of the second half, I couldn’t see a United equaliser, so bereft of ideas did the forward play appear. Special mention here goes to Michael Carrick, not the only United player to have a bad game tonight (I’m struggling to think of a United player that didn’t), but comfortably United’s worst player, there was some stiff competition tonight for that accolade.

Shaun Maloney put’s Wigan 1-0 up on 49 minutes

United didn’t produce a shot worth saving ’til 81 minutes when Danny Welbeck forced a easy save from Wigan’s excellent Omani keeper, Ali Al-Habsi. On 71 minutes, United were denied a certain penalty when Maynor Figueroa handballed a Phil Jones cross only for referee Phil Dowd to wave the penalty appeal away. Whilst I think referee Phil Dowd got two crucial decisions wrong tonight one thing I have no argument with is the end result. To say this was a piss poor performance from United, does a disservice to piss. In the run in to every season there’s always one mad result. The thing is, most United fans feared that silly season result could’ve occured at Ewood Park nine days ago. That it didn’t and also the fact that United ground out a win in a stadium that’s never in the mood to do us any favours, meant a lot of United fans thought we were virtually home and dry. As expected, City won at home tonight, beating West Brom 4-0. With the gap between the two teams at the top of the table now reduced to five points, City fans will be digging out the shirts and scarves that were unceremoniously dumped their bins on Sunday night. Their attempts at revitalising the UK’s handkerchief industry are temporarily postponed.

I had a lucky escape tonight. I could have got an hospitality/executive seat, I was seriously thinking about it but in the end, I baulked at £127.00 it was costing (and that was with bulk booking discount !). The same person who’d organised the seats had also said that the executive seats being sold, were the last tickets available anywhere for tonights match, the implication being that it was a complete sell out. This put me off travelling down on spec as I didn’t want to pay over the odds to some pie muncher who only goes three matches a season. I watched the match in a pub in Ashton-On-Mersey with two very well known Old Trafford t-shirt grafters. Imagine my surprise when at kick off, I saw thousands of empty seats scattered around the ground. I thought Blackburn supporters were poor but this took the extra crusted meat and tater pie. I don’t really have a problem with Wigan Athletic, it’s manager Roberto Martinez or it’s publicity shy chairman Dave Whelan but with support of them numbers, they like Blackburn, have no place in the top league.