Manchester United’s capacity for drama is certainly not on the wane. Not every heavily hyped contest lives up to the billing, but this Manchester derby was quite possibly the game that had everything. Even in victory over our bitter rivals, even just three points off the top of the league, United are still yet to convince.
Before the game talk amongst the United faithful was focused on one topic and one topic only. Paul Scholes, no doubt responding to a embattled plea from the club, has stepped out of retirement to return to the playing staff for the rest of the season. This is a bit like Jesus rising from the dead to conduct a couple of sermons at the local church.
“If Henry can return to Arsenal, then why not?” Many of us thought. Within minutes both #paulscholes and #bobbycharlton were trending on twitter, presumably as everybody thought of the same joke. Nonetheless, seeing the name Scholes amongst the substitutes was confirmation that the coffers at Old Trafford really are bare. We won’t be buying any players this January.
At half time it looked like we wouldn’t be needing any new signings. Three goals up and a player sent off for City, it looked like we were about to extract revenge for the travesty at Old Trafford earlier in the season. That was to prove to be wishful thinking.
There were those that thought Kompany’s sending off was harsh. It was, certainly a surprise to see the red card. However, the fact is it was a two-footed challenge; the rules are very clear on this. It’s been a red card in this sport for the last 21 years and it was a red card today.
City have every right to feel that the referee perhaps did them a disservice but he evened things out when denying United a certain penalty late in the second half. By then United were holding on that is borderline embarrassing against a side playing with ten men.
There is still a great deal to cherish in this side though. Scholes played pretty reasonably I thought, Rooney was immense in places and Welbeck’s goal gets better every time I see it.
And Manchester United never die, despite the fact our backs were against the wall, despite the disgraceful articles in the Sunday papers prophesising our demise, the team have delivered a famous victory against the odds. Never, ever write us off.
Follow Mark on twitter.com/markjpayne
