Wanderers 1 United 1
WANDERERS 4-3-3
JUSSI JAASKELAINEN ... 8
His save from Keane was as impressive as it was important; an equaliser then and United would have been favourites.
BRUNO N'GOTTY ... 8
For almost half an hour he thought his goal would be decisive; never seriously stretched at the back.
FLORENT LAVILLE ... 8
An impressive debut against top drawer strikers; looked like he'd played at the Reebok for years.
GUDNI BERGSSON ... 8
Strolled through the game in imperious fashion against two more of the Premiership's best front men.
SIMON CHARLTON ... 8
Made an impact on and off the ball; a major factor in helping Wanderers make that all-important positive start.
JAY-JAY OKOCHA ... 9
United had no-one to match his influence and artistry; a big player for a big game against big opposition.
IVAN CAMP0 ... 8
Played the midfield holding role to perfection; the odd scary moment but that's Campo!
RICARDO GARDNER ... 8
His wayward pass proved costly and tarnished an otherwise impressive display; his pace scared United.
BERNARD MENDY ... 8
The Frenchman's speed, energy and skill had United on the back foot time and again.
HENRIK PEDERSEN ... 7
So determined but so unlucky! Denied by Barthez one minute, injured the next.
YOURI DJORKAEFF ... 8
Another of Big Sam's big game players; rose to the occasion with quality performance.
Subs: SALVA BALLESTA (7) for Pedersen 57 mins, ANTHONY BARNESS for Mendy 82 mins, KEVIN NOLAN for Djorkaeff 85 mins. Not used: PIERRE-YVES ANDRE, KEVIN POOLE.
UNITED
4-4-2
FABIAN BARTHEZ ... 8
GARY NEVILLE ... 7
WES BROWN ... 6
RIO FERDINAND ... 7
JOHN O'SHEA ... 6
DAVID BECKHAM ... 6
JUAN VERON ... 5
ROY KEANE ... 6
RYAN GIGGS ... 5
OLE GUNNAR SOLKSJAER ... 6
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY ... 6
Subs: DIEGO FORLAN (6) for Giggs 57 mins, PHIL NEVILLE for Brown 74 mins, NICKY BUTT for Veron 80 mins. Not used: DARREN FLETCHER, RICARDO.
Referee; Andy D'Urso (Billericay).
Attendance: 27,409.
Goals: Wanderers - N'Gotty 61 mins; United - Solskjaer 90 mins.
Shots/headers on target: Wanderers 8, United 2.
Corners: Wanderers 8, United 5.
Offsides: Wanderers 2, United 6.
Fouls committed: Wanderers 16, Un ited 9.
Bookings: Wanderers - Campo 43 mins (foul on Solskjaer); United - Keane 28 mins (foul on Mendy).
Man of
the Match
JAY-JAY OKOCHA
ONLY rarely does a player come along who has the talent and the temperament to reproduce the skills he displays on the training ground in the pressure of a big match situation. That's what makes Jay-Jay so special. United are a class act but even they were bamboozled.
Magic Moment
IT is hard to select from Okocha's repertoire but the way he played himself out of trouble with Keane snapping at his heels - an audacious backheel to Charlton on the leftg wing - was breathtaking. Keane's expression was a picture. Jay Jay showed once more that he can mix it with the best.
Moan of the Match
NEVER mind the latest of those costly late lapses or the blatant penalty that may or may not have made a difference to the outcome - the blue riband for the biggest moan of the day goes to Sir Alex Ferguson for claiming that the 12 o'clock kick off affected United's preparations!
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