A continuous theme in the Premier League season continued on Boxing Day.
Manchester United came from behind to claim all three points at Old
Trafford on Wednesday, with Chicharito scoring the match-winner in the 90th
minute—condemning Alan Pardew's Newcastle to a hard-fought defeat.
With Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck all out through injury
and illness, the Red Devils showed why they are deserving of top spot in the
table and the team to beat heading into the new year. The Magpies had the lead
on three separate occasions, yet, United somehow managed to put out the fire
and avoid defeat. Following a slight stumble in Swansea by the Premier League
leaders on Sunday that cut their lead from six to four points at the summit,
Sir Alex Ferguson made sure a repeat performance was evaded against an opponent
that has gone 40 years without victory at the Theatre of Dreams.
Referee Mike Dean was the focal point of much controversy following his
allowance of a Jonny Evan's own goal that gave Newcastle their second lead of
the match. Papiss Demba Cisse was clearly offside on the initial shot by former
Red Devil Danny Simpson which was parried by David De Gea into Evans, but was
adjudged to have not been interfering with the United defender before
the ball went in. The linesman flagged for offside but was overruled by Dean—who
received an earful by Ferguson as he came back onto the field for the start of
the second-half. On further review of countless replays, Ferguson had every
reason to feel his side were on the wrong end of that call.
Patrice Evra tied the match on the hour mark, before the
game's pantomime villain Cisse put the visitors ahead for the final time
through a great cross from another former United player Gabriel Obertan. It
lasted less than three minutes, as Robin van Persie tied the match for the host's—cuing
up a thrilling end to a chaotic match.
A debatable decision on Fabricio Coloccini handling the ball went
against the hosts. De Gea terribly misreading a Sammy Ameobi shot that luckily
for the keeper hit the post. The match resembled a basketball game—it was back
and forth, before Chicharito scored the decider.
To make matters worse for Newcastle, Vurnon Anita was stretchered off
following a horrendous tackle by Antonio Valencia that went unpunished which
led to a tremendous amount of abuse from the Magpies bench—assistant John
Carver leading the way--towards the linesman and fourth official.
The victory was amplified for the red side of Manchester following the
news of their city rivals slip-up at the Stadium of Light.
The Wearside jinx continued to haunt Roberto Mancini, losing 1-0 for the
third successive time against Sunderland on their ground. It was made even
worse by Adam Johnson scoring the match-winner. The England winger was sold for £10 million
this past summer by City after falling out of favour with Mancini—never really
being high on the Italian manager’s depth chart during his stay.
Despite having a sub-par season to date, Johnson got the last laugh
against his former teammates, scoring a ridiculous dipping strike that caught
Joe Hart off-guard in the 53rd minute. Mancini was furious at the referee for
not signalling for a free-kick in the lead up to Johnson's eventual goal, with
Pablo Zabaleta feeling hard-done by the official.
Martin O'Neill should be extremely pleased by his team's performance on
this day, as the Black Cats produced one of their best outings of the season.
Johnson was the hero, but, Simon Mignolet deserves equal plaudits for earning
the clean sheet and keeping Sunderland in the game. The visitors had 67 percent
of the possession, firing 23 total shots at Mignolet—doubling the Black Cats
final tally.
The loss by City, coupled by United's comeback victory has stretched the
gap to seven points between the two rivals as the close of 2012 approaches.
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