United eased their way to a comfortable 3-0 win over a depleted Wolverhampton Wanderers team at Old Trafford last night. It could have been 4-1 at half-time, the fact that it wasn't was down to Wayne Rooney's poor finishing; the United striker missed two gilt edged chances in the first 10 minutes.
Somewhat surprisingly given the quality of the opposition, the visitors gave United a few first-half scares, notably, when Friend narrowly missed the target following a throw-in from the left. Tomas Kuszczak suffered one of those unhappy flappy moments we he came off his line for a ball that clearly was never going to be his, thankfully the ensuing near mayhem came to naught.
The champions were eventually gifted the lead on the half-hour from the penalty spot following a blatant handball by Ronald Zubar; Rooney converted and then Nemanja Vidic doubled United's lead 10 minutes later with a trademark header. It was all over on 66 minutes when Valencia added a third following United's best attacking move of the night; it started with Scholes who dinked the ball forward to Berbatov who in turn flicked the ball on to the Ecuadorian who made no mistake when crashing home a well hit first time half-volley with the outside of his left foot.
Despite the scoreline, United were nowhere near their best - they didn't have to be, which is a blessing. Apart from his part in the third goal, Berbatov was poor, as was Rooney - but at least he was trying.
Obertan started on the left and did quite well; he is one of the few bright spots about the current United team. Fergie will also no doubt be pleased with Valencia's goal tally (5) so far; quite incredibly he is the club's third top-scorer behind Rooney and Owen. The Ecuadorian is ahead of Berbatov...which says as much about the Bulgarian's season so far as it does about the former Wigan star.
De Laet was given another start, this time at right-back, where he did an okay job for the team. Given Ferguson's injury problems he will be pleased the fixture list doesn't - on paper at least anyway - look that taxing.
In the aftermath of what wasn't a great game, the media have predictably launched a witch-hunt against Mick McCarthy for his decision to make 10 changes to the side that beat Spurs at the weekend.
The media is snided out with former Liverpool players and fans; so it will not have surprised United supporters that the likes of Alan Green was reportedly raging on 5 Live last night about McCarthy. It is also not that surprising that The Times have also launched a moral crusade against the Wolves manager. The Times football editor, Tony Evans, is a big Liverpool fan. No doubting followers of the 'great unwashed' have been looking at their Boxing Day Anfield clash with Wolves - hence their over the top cursing.
Managers' make their choices, they quite often pay the price for failure with the sack; McCarthy will face that fate again if Wolves end up getting relegated. But isn't it funny that the likes of Alan Green and Tony Evans don't carp when their beloved Liverpool manager pulls the same stunt?
Scouse fans have short memories
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