On a day of planes and protests, United and David Moyes enjoy a comfortable afternoon at Old Trafford.
It wasn't quite all 'plane' sailing for United but the aerial anti-David Moyes protest was shot down in flames by a welcome Reds victory.
Bayern Munich won't exactly be quaking in their boots when they make their own flight into Manchester on Tuesday but after the misery of the derby against City and the subsequent in-house squabbling between fans over the merits of the 'Wrong One – Moyes Out' banner flown behind a plane paid for by a disgruntled bunch of followers at least there was something to cheer about.
When the first drone of the engines could be heard coming in from the direction of its base in Blackpool, Old Trafford looked to the skies and some booing broke out against the stunt.
Moyes, himself, took the unusual step of making his way to his seat in the dug out before the teams and it was a courageous decision that would show clearly if the home support was as strongly behind him as he believes is the case.
The Reds boss was vindicated as the stadium rose to applaud his walk down the pitchside and chanted his name.
When the game got underway the background engine noise from the plane could still be heard above and after one final fly past it disappeared from sight and sound.
But it was almost immediately replaced by the noise of the Villa support becoming another visiting group of fans cheering an away goal at United's expense.
It came in the 13th minute after Rafael was punished for a rash foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor. It got worse for the Brazilian and the Reds as Ashley Westwood curled in the set piece beyond David de Gea.
With six home defeats already United were understandably jittery and the Spanish keeper almost blundered with a weak clearance.
Wayne Rooney steadied the nerves after 20 minutes when he met a Shinji Kagawa cross cleanly to guide home with his head.
United got their noses in front seconds before half time when Leandro Bacuna brought down Juan Mata in the box and Rooney got his second from the spot.
The Reds escaped more panic setting in when Christian Benteke missed a golden opportunity. The Belgiancushioned a cross on his chest in the box but then completely fluffed his shot before heading over from close range.
United punished him by going 3-1 up with Mata opening his United goal account in the 57th minute.
Substitute Javier Hernandez scored in added on time to make it the first time the Reds had scored four at home in the league this season and ensure their most emphatic Premier League Old Trafford win.
No comments:
Post a Comment