Manchester United Continue To Wobble

Sunday 10th January 2010 - 20:37:12

Manchester United missed a chance to top of the Premier League this weekend as they continue to wobble.

The champions could only manage a 1-1 draw at Birmingham in one of very few matches to go ahead due to the big freeze.

Birmingham had fought all week to make sure that the game would go ahead and their determination was rewarded when Cameron Jerome gave the home supporters something to cheer about.

A poor clearance from Jonny Evans allowed Jerome to smash the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead just before the half time whistle.

With both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand missing United looked fragile at the back and still seemed to be reeling from their FA Cup defeat to Leeds.

Only four members of that FA Cup team survived and Rooney was up front alone, despite this it was Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes who created the chances early on.

But Birmingham’s defence stood their ground and Rooney was denied by a superb block from goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Into the second half and Birmingham continued to push forward and put the United defence under increasing pressure.

But the champions levelled the match in controversial style when the ball deflected off Dann into the Birmingham net for an own goal.

While the goal was ruled off side by the assistant and disallowed this decision was overruled by the referee who allowed it to see United draw level.

United surged forward but were unable to get the breakthrough to clinch the match. Then Flectcher was awarded a second yellow card for tripping Jerome and sent off.

Despite six minutes of injury time neither side were unable to find a second goal.

With the draw Birmingham stretch their unbeaten record to twelve games, a club record, but the draw meant they missed out on the chance to move above Liverpool who have a game in hand after their match against Tottenham Hotspur was postponed due to the weather.

The only other match in the Premiership to go ahead was Arsenal against Everton which ended 2-2.

Tomas Rosicky scored in injury time to deny Everton a win over the London club as they managed to salvage a draw.

Arsenal are now two points behind Manchester United and three behind Chelsea.
 
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw