FA Cup - Southampton no match for United

Eurosport - Mon, 05 Jan 09:38:00 2009

Two controversial goals saw Manchester United ease to a comfortable 3-0 victory at 10-man Southampton to book a fourth-round place in the FA Cup.

FOOTBALL; Danny Wellbeck celebrates scoring for Manchester United against Southampton, Jan 2009 - 0

Youngster Danny Wellbeck headed home from an offside position to open the scoring in the 19th minute, with Nani firing home from the penalty spot just after half-time when referee Mike Riley wrongly ruled a free-kick had hit a defender's raised arm in the wall.

Youngster Darron Gibson fired home a third to seal the victory in the final minutes.

Despite the controversial nature of the opening two goals, Southampton could hardly complain about the result as they were comprehensively out-played throughout, United's task made even easier by the 37th-minute sending off of Matt Paterson.

United, who could afford to be without Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, began to impose themselves on the Championship side after a tepid opening, with Dimitar Berbatov particularly threatening in possession in the final third.

The Bulgarian had already provided half-openings for Ryan Giggs and Nani before United made the breakthrough.

Nani's corner was headed against the crossbar by John O'Shea and Wellbeck - who replays later showed to be in an offside position - had the simple task of nodding home the rebound from point blank range.

United should have been two ahead in the 26th minute when Berbatov and Michael Carrick carved open the Saints back four. Carrick ran on to lift the ball over the advancing Kelvin Davis but, with the goal at his mercy, Southampton defender Chris Perry produced a fine tackle to deny the England midfielder.

Southampton's task was made much harder in the 35th minute when Paterson was sent off by referee Riley for an ugly, studs-up lunge on United defender Nemanja Vidic.

Wellbeck almost snatched a second at the near post in first-half stoppage time but Davis once again reacted well to tip the ball around the post.

Just four minutes after the break, United did double their lead, although the goal was again surrounded by controversy as Southampton hotly disputed the handball decision given against David McGoldrick as he jumped in the defensive wall to block Nani's free-kick.

Referee Riley had no doubt that the ball struck the Saints man's elbow - despite replays showing the ball striking his head - and pointed to the spot.

Nani cooly stroked the penalty in to the bottom right to make it 2-0.

Southampton's Ryan Smith burst into the penalty area after robbing O'Shea in the 53rd minute as the home side looked for an unlikely way back into the match, but his left-foot shot was wide of the target when faced only with goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sent Wayne Rooney on to liven up the final twenty minutes, with the match threatening to drift aimlessly.

And Rooney set up United's third for fellow sub Gibson, the England man breaking into the box down the left before flicking a superb pass into the middle for the youngster to volley home from eight yards.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport

Comment 109 - 128 of 148

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  1. Wissam my name mick if i ever meet you i break your @#$% NECK now @#$% off home @#$%

    From Mickey B, on Mon 5 Jan 8:31AM

  2. number 122 is there something twisted in your head that comment is absolutely outrageous heroes died back then and you aint got any respects for that i suggest you take a look at yourself in the mirror and think again!

    From Gary, on Mon 5 Jan 8:18AM

  3. loveland u @#$%

    From sabiitiasiimwe, on Mon 5 Jan 8:07AM

  4. RE TAFFS REMARKS,POST 92,THE VAST MAJORITY OF US ARE TRUE FANS OF FOOTBALL AND ENJOY THE BANTER ON HERE, ITS A FOOTBALL FORUM, NOT A HATE CAMPAIGN, FILL IN THE ABUSE FORM AND GET THESES IDIOTS LIKE WISSAM OFF OF HERE,WE DONT NEED THESES COMMENTS OR THE LIKES OF THEM,AND TO YAHOO IM APPALLED THAT THESE COMMENTS ARE BEING ALLOWED.
    SPURS THRU AND THRU.

    From jim, on Mon 5 Jan 7:45AM

  5. Never seen a team as favored by referees (days after days, years after years) than Man U, disgraceful and unbearable!

    From vinileg, on Mon 5 Jan 7:20AM

  6. smelly feet

    From matt, on Mon 5 Jan 6:38AM

  7. Wissam - why don't you do us all a favour and fµçk off back under the tµrd you crawled out from under (probably not in the UK, eh?)

    Yet again, Mike Riley involved in WRONG decisions! United scored one genuine goal and should have been playing against 11 men all match. When are the FA (and Premiership / Football League) going to wake up to the fact that buffoons like Riley are not only upsetting fans and players alike by their incompetence, but are also contributing to the financial demise of football clubs by being responsible for their relegation / elimination. USE VIDEO!!!

    From EAP, on Mon 5 Jan 6:32AM

  8. Man U ? thugs, cheats and liars - and thats only the manager !

    From tonybee1, on Mon 5 Jan 6:15AM

  9. ok, so if raising your hand to protect your face does not constitute deliberate handball, then can anybody tell me why Cristano Ronaldo was sent off this season?? And as for that idiot spouting those hateful and disgusting comments- am i therefore to think that A. there is no vetting of comments on this site,
    or B. the people who do vet the comments either condone or support the comments

    From ozire, on Mon 5 Jan 6:12AM

  10. As a Liverpool supporter for 30 years,I have had alot of harmless banter wiith fans of many other teams,but mainly Manchester United.All I can say about the idiots on this site that post such garbage as WISSAM A AND LOVENLAND is what a disgrace to the true supporters of all teams! I think if everyone who feels the same way about by their idiotic postings ,report them and they may hopefully get blocked by Yahoo.

    From , on Mon 5 Jan 6:04AM

  11. As a Liverpool supporter for 30 years,I have had alot of harmless banter wiith fans of many other teams,but mainly Manchester United.All I can say about the idiots on this site that post such garbage as WISSAM A AND LOVENLAND is what a disgrace to the true supporters of all teams! I think if everyone who feels the same way about by their idiotic postings ,report them and they may hopefully get blocked by Yahoo.

    From , on Mon 5 Jan 6:04AM

  12. Wissam, I may be a Liverpool supporter but what you are saying is just pure VILE to say the least and I am sure the Manchester United fans agree with me. I have many friends that are United fans of I were to tell them this, you would be guaranteed a death threat!

    From , on Mon 5 Jan 6:00AM

  13. need help form the ref to beat southampton...manchester is truly the best team right now..really, especially when they play with the referee..good luck manchester for winning the fa cup

    From suyash, on Mon 5 Jan 5:46AM

  14. see u in the next round manu !

    From ispurs, on Mon 5 Jan 4:45AM

  15. i cant help thinking that this Wissam is a @#$% he should not be on here at all.
    Scolari has been onto Fergi asking to borrow the strip united played in this evening for when they play southend again but only as long as he can have the same players inside the shirts.

    From ianjohnstone223, on Mon 5 Jan 4:05AM

  16. 2009 - The year of the treble (again)

    From Tonytonytonytonytony, on Mon 5 Jan 3:25AM

  17. elliotbond u obviously aint not only was he off the ground when he made contact with vidic he also went in studs up,this is a red card offense, i play semi pro and i pray to god i never get u reffing one of my games,clueless

    From chris w, on Mon 5 Jan 1:48AM

  18. elliotbond u obviously aint not only was he off the ground when he made contact with vidic he also went in studs up,this is a red card offense, i play semi pro and i pray to god i never get u reffing one of my games,clueless

    From whu2k, on Mon 5 Jan 1:20AM

  19. I'm a spurs fan yet idiots like Wissam really don't deserve to be that horrible.
    honestly I didn't watch the whole match but really wishing death upon talented players really is disgraceful. There alot more talented then you probably are!
    NEVER wish death upon such amazing talented players, it's such harse words death yet hurling abuse at them...will get you no where!

    From zebraheaduk, on Mon 5 Jan 1:19AM

  20. wissam u need help kid, big time... the tackle was terrible and utd had more quality to win the game ne way. what craic if chelski mess up in the replay!!!!

    From Fran L, on Mon 5 Jan 1:00AM
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