Devils of Manchester

Rooney scores 100th goal in a United jersey

2009-08-23T18:55:00.001+05:30

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to Wayne Rooney after he notched his 100th goal for the club in the 5-0 victory at Wigan Athletic.

The 23-year-old netted a double to take his tally to 101 in 242 appearances for the Red Devils, with Ferguson full of praise for England striker Rooney.

WAYNE ROONEY

He said: "It is a great achievement and he is only a young lad. Some players have been at the club for many years and not reached that total yet. It will do him a world of good. Strikers have to score - that is their mantra. If they are not scoring they think the world is at an end. When they are scoring they think they will never finish scoring, but that is what they are."

Meanwhile Ferguson was also pleased to see Michael Owen score his first goal for the club, adding: "That is what he needed, he needed a goal. It is what he is made of. All of his career has been about goals. He is one the best finishers this country has ever had. This can only help him. I was so pleased for him and Dimitar Berbatov. If the strikers keep doing that it gives us a big chance.

Rooney, Owen score to demolish Wigan

2009-08-23T18:52:00.001+05:30

Wayne Rooney scored his 100th career goal and Michael Owen got off the mark for Manchester United as Wigan felt the backlash after the champions' midweek defeat at Burnley had the critics writing them off. For the Latics, it was the same old boring story and their 10th defeat from 10 games against United since their arrival in the Premier League.

MICHAEL OWEN

Rooney got the 100th goal of his career with a header to break the deadlock, Dimitar Berbatov got the second and Rooney enjoyed a slice of luck when his second deflected off Mario Melchiot to leave Chris Kirkland stranded. Then Owen came off the bench to hit a trademark goal in off the right post after being set up by Nani, who added to Wigan's misery with number five in stoppage time. New signing Mohamed Diame went straight into the Wigan side at the expense of Michael Brown - the only change from the side beaten by Wolves.

United made seven changes after the shock defeat at Burnley with Ben Foster, Patrice Evra, Wayne Rooney and Jonny Evans the only players retaining their places in the starting line-up.

It was goalless at half-time but United were kicking themselves after creating chances but again showing a lack of finishing power.

They could have had it sewn up in the opening 10 minutes but Titus Bramble came up with a super block to deny Darren Fletcher and then Paul Scholes blazed over from close range. Kirkland had no problem dealing with goalbound efforts from Rooney and Berbatov before the Latics came up with their first real threat.

Jason Koumas cut inside to let fly with a powerful right footer which looked destined for the left corner but Foster did well to get both hands to it to keep it out. Earlier Wigan had a half-hearted penalty appeal waved away by Howard Webb after Jordi Gomez went down under a challenge from Nemanja Vidic.

Paul Scharner went close for the Latics in the second half by heading over after Patrice Evra was penalised for a cynical foul on Charles N'Zogbia.

And seconds after Rooney's opener - with Wigan old-boy Antonio Valencia supplying the cross - Wigan went desperately close when Hugo Rodallego's header forced Foster to show his agility with a great save.

But United hit back instantly with Berbatov getting number two after lifting the ball over Kirkland, before Rooney left the Latics with no way back and Owen's strike saw Wigan fans heading for the exits.

Nani made it five from a free-kick in the closing seconds to complete the rout.

Evans needs surgery

2009-08-23T18:51:00.000+05:30

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has admitted defeat in his bid to avoid surgery on an ankle problem.

However, the Northern Ireland international is likely to delay the operation as long as possible due to a player shortage in the backline at Old Trafford.

JONNY EVANS

The 22-year-old revealed that the niggle has been bothering him since last Christmas and a summer of rest had not got rid of the pain. Central defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are currently out injured, thrusting Evans to the forefront as one of the Red Devils' first-choice replacements.

Despite making just 34 first-team appearances for the champions, Evans has emerged as an immediate back-up option to Vidic and Ferdinand.

"At some point my ankle will need surgery," he said.

"It is a problem that has been bothering me since Christmas.

"We thought it might have gone away over the summer but it is still there.

"Every now and again I catch it and it will be quite sore for a while. Then the pain dies off after a week or so."

Ferdinand injury

2009-08-23T18:50:00.000+05:30

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Rio Ferdinand is facing another month on the sidelines with a thigh injury. Ferdinand missed last week's Premier League curtain raiser against Birmingham City after picking up a thigh injury during training.

RIO FERDINAND

Ferguson initially suggested the defender would be missing for two weeks but scans have now revealed a slight tear in his thigh muscle. "Rio is going to be out for three to four weeks," he confirmed.

Ferdinand will now miss Saturday's trip to Wigan Athletic and next weekend's showdown with Arsenal.

He is also likely to be absent when United start their Champions League campaign and is extremely doubtful for England's friendly against Slovenia on September 5 and then the World Cup qualifier against Croatia four days later,

However, United have been boosted by the news that Ferdinand's central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic - who has also missed the start of the season with a calf problem - is fit to face Wigan.

Both first-choice central defenders missed the midweek 1-0 defeat at Burnley.

Fergie concerned

2009-08-23T18:48:00.000+05:30

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted Manchester United cannot afford to lose games to the likes of Burnley if they are to retain their Premier League title following Wednesday's shock 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor.

United lost to a Robbie Blake goal against the newly-promoted Clarets and afterwards Ferguson offered no excuses.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON

"I'm sure we'll get a response (at Wigan) on Saturday, but we're all disappointed because it was a bad result," said Ferguson.

"It was a terrific pitch so that's no excuse. We just should have done better with it. We didn't play well but that can happen.

"We usually take time to get going every season - sometimes it's October before we get to our best form - but, yes, we shouldn't be losing these games."

Ferguson felt that had Michael Carrick converted a 43rd minute penalty after Patrice Evra was felled then the champions would have gone on to win the game.

He added: "I think we'd have won the game if we'd scored that. We'd have composed ourselves and won, I think."Instead, in the second half we got harried with our passes and made a couple of bad decisions. That can happen.

"We should have done more with the chances we had and the possession we had.

Injuries mount up

2009-08-23T18:36:00.001+05:30

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he has major defensive injury problems to contend with ahead of Wednesday's trip to Burnley.

United won Sunday's Premier League season opener 1-0 over Birmingham City despite being unable to call upon the services of Rio Ferdinand (thigh), Nemanja Vidic (calf), Gary Neville (groin) and Rafael (shoulder).

JONNY EVANS

Jonny Evans limped off midway through the second half with a recurrence of an ankle problem and is doubtful for the champions' midweek trip to Turf Moor in a further concern for Ferguson.

United are already without first-choice goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar following summer hand surgery.

"Ferdinand will be out for two weeks - the next two or three games I would think," revealed Ferguson after the 1-0 win at Old Trafford. Vidic is training so, hopefully, we'll have him back for next Saturday at Wigan. Jonny Evans is injured again, Gary Neville has just resumed training and Rafa da Silva is still out with a dislocated shoulder."

United win opener

2009-08-23T18:33:00.001+05:30

Manchester United began the new Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win at home to Birmingham City. United, who have drawn their opening games of the last two seasons at home, were less than convincing against newly-promoted Birmingham City.

WAYNE ROONEY

Although the Red Devils may have lacked the sparkle of Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid for £80million in the summer they did have Wayne Rooney in inspired form. The England striker scored the only goal of the game and could easily have had a hat-trick. Rooney started and finished the move which brought United all three points. Finding Dimitar Berbatov midway in the Birmingham half, Rooney kept on running as the Bulgarian headed the ball to Nani on the left.

The Portuguese winger produced a precision cross into the Birmingham box where Rooney rose above Franck Queudrue to produce a glancing header from eight yards. The ball hit the foot of the right post and rebounded to Rooney who prodded it home from close range. Rooney could have had a second goal seconds after the interval when he hit a spectacular swerving 35-yard shot from the left which was brilliantly turned behind by goalkeeper Joe Hart, who is on loan at St Andrew's from Manchester City.

Rooney was a whisker away from another goal six minutes from the end when his header from Ryan Giggs' left-wing cross went inches wide of the post. Between the Rooney efforts, Berbatov saw his 71st minute header from a Giggs corner cleared off the line by Lee Carsley, while substitute Michael Owen twice came close to scoring in the dying minutes. Owen was marginally offside after running on to Luis Antonio Valencia's through ball before rounding Hart and netting, while in injury time Rooney's superb chest down put him through, only to be foiled by the Birmingham goalkeeper's left leg.

Birmingham had two golden chances. Queudrue saw his 37th minute header from Sebastian Larsson's corner headed off the line by Patrice Evra. Then, in the 78th minute, substitute Christian Benitez was denied by a magnificent save from United goalkeeper Ben Foster, who hurled himself across goal to turn away a close-range effort.

Chelsea win Community Shield

2009-08-23T18:30:00.002+05:30

Chelsea lifted the FA Community Shield after a 4-1 penalty shootout victory over Manchester United at Wembley. Ninety three incident-filled minutes ended with the FA Cup winners and Premier League champions level at 2-2.

The Blues lifted the shield following a comprehensive victory in the shootout, with Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra missing their spot-kicks. Textbook 12-yard efforts from Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou sealed a first trophy win at Stamford Bridge for new manager Carlo Ancelotti. The two sides were even throughout regular time, but a stoppage-time Wayne Rooney equaliser cancelled out a controversial Lampard goal to make it 2-2. It was Sir Alex Ferguson's side which started the game the brighter, having the better of the first half, despite the first chance of the game falling to Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea.

From a corner, the full-back crashed a volley into the ground which was headed onto the crossbar by Evra, providing a narrow escape for the champions after just six minutes. But the rest of the half belonged to United, with the first goal of the game coming four minutes later.

Nani, who was the star of the show in the first period, danced his way inside from the left wing to fire a bouncing shot from 25 yards, which evaded Petr Cech at his far post. The rest of the first half saw United dominate, with Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov linking up well. Nani also showed his worth to Sir Alex Ferguson in his bid to succeed fellow countrymen Cristiano Ronaldo as United's wing hero, but the Portuguese player was forced off in the second period favouring his arm, in what could be a serious injury.Chelsea appeared for the second half with a new sense of purpose and were rewarded with an equaliser on 52 minutes. Ricardo Carvalho crept into the United area unmarked and casually nodded the ball into an empty net after Ben Foster parried a meaningless cross.

And their comeback was complete when Lampard netted 20 minutes later.

The goal did not come without controversy, as referee Chris Foy allowed United an advantage with Evra on the floor holding his face after being body-checked by Ballack. Moments earlier, Foy brought play to a halt when Ballack was on the ground. But this time play continued, with Chelsea winning the ball back and racing forward. Lampard completed a simple attack, netting after the Red Devils were outnumbered in defence. This was to the fury of United's players, particularly Rooney. The match became disjointed in the last half hour, but substitute Giggs came up with a final piece of magic in the second minute of injury time.

A delightful pass behind the Chelsea back four saw Rooney race onto the ball, before neatly chipping over to earn a draw.

But it all proved academic in the end result, as the brilliant penalty-taking technique of Chelsea secured an easy shootout win.

Man Utd pay tribute to Sir Matt Busby

2009-05-24T15:53:00.002+05:30

Manchester United will try to inspire their players with an emotive tribute to Sir Matt Busby at the Champions League final against Barcelona in Rome next Wednesday. Busby would have turned 100 on the eve of the final, the 10th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson's first European Cup success, and the club have received permission from Uefa to create a huge mosaic in honour of their former manager at the end of the Stadio Olimpico that houses United's supporters.

The mosaic will spell "For Sir Matt" and will be made up of 16,000 red and white sheets, including a black and white portrait of the man who has been described by Ferguson as "the heartbeat of Manchester United". It will be unveiled shortly before kick-off and the organisers, the Stretford End Flags group, say they hope it will "inspire the team" and be "a tribute to the Godfather of football and the architect of the modern Manchester United".