Eurosport - Thu, 05 Mar 12:25:00 2009
A brief look at the reaction to Wednesday night's Premier League action, with Alex Ferguson reflecting on a tough battle at St James' Park.
Newcastle United 1-2 Manchester United
Chris Hughton: "Yes, I do (think Newcastle will survive). It's vital that we put on that type of performance right through to the end of the season. I was delighted with the performance. In the form that Manchester United are in, to be able in a lot of periods of the game to take the game to them, take the lead and go very close to getting a second speaks volumes for this group of players."
Alex Ferguson: "It wasn't a great performance. We got off to a terrible start, and Newcastle were pumped up for it. We expected that and we should have dealt with it better. But coming from 1-0 down was a good result for us. It required a lot of grit. Our football has been better, and we were maybe careless with passing of the ball. Newcastle knew it was a massive game for them and went about their job in the right way. We could have been 2-0 down actually."
Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa
Mark Hughes: "That was one of our most accomplished performances - if not the most accomplished. It is baffling at times why we cannot produce that kind of performance away from home, although in fairness, there have been some positive signs recently."
Martin O'Neill: "We are not nervous - we are excited. Really, if you are not excited by the position we are in, you shouldn't be playing. We are in this position because we deserve to be. It would be a shame to throw it up now without a fight - but I don't think we will."
Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Middlesbrough
Harry Redknapp: "That's 10 points from five games, and you'd be flying with that average. It's still all to play for - with 12 teams in it, I think. Even Fulham would be looking over their shoulders. This was a massive game because of the games we have coming up - three away and Chelsea at home. Another three victories should be enough. But there are 11 games left, and we want to keep pushing on."
Gareth Southgate: "I thought we were poor defensively. We looked a threat going forward. It was open - which was exactly what we didn't want, because they have better footballers than us. We came here in good spirits. Were we too buoyant? We certainly had belief. It was a big blow - but it's about how we respond now. I don't think there was complacency, but we didn't do the right things at the right times and we weren't as resilient as we should have been."
Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Everton
Sam Allardyce: I couldn't fault the team for effort. Unfortunately, we just needed a quality finish. In the second half, with the chances we had - you will never get many against Everton - we did not convert. That is probably why we are sat here 0-0."
David Moyes: "Steven (Pienaar) had a good opportunity, and I thought he should have scored. We are disappointed, because we wanted to take three points. A point at Blackburn is not a bad result, but I would have liked to have played better and passed better."
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton Wanderers
Tony Pulis: "Players of (goalscorer James) Beattie's age sometimes need the challenge of proving they can still play in the top flight. It was one of the reasons why we went and got him. He wanted this chance. His goalscoring record is smashing. Not only that, it is what he does around the place as well. He is a very good team man; he gets the players together. He has brought something else to the dressing room. He is a larger-than-life character."
Gary Megson: "You won't see a worst (goal) conceded up and down the country, never mind in the Premier League. Most of the time when the first goal goes in it completely changes the game. I thought we had more possession than ordinarily we do have but we weren't good enough with it. We did not compete with Stoke when they were putting balls into the box. We did not have all 11 players performing at the level they are capable of and that has cost us."
Wigan Athletic 0-1 West Ham
Steve Bruce: "The game was ruined as a spectacle. Carlton Cole shouldn't have been sent off. Referee - use a bit of common sense. It had the makings of a decent game but how he sends someone off in the first half for something as petulant as that I don't know. I feel a bit sorry for him because in my opinion Mr Attwell is not ready to step up to the plate."
Gianfranco Zola: "I told the referee I didn't think it was a reckless challenge, Carlton didn't even look at the defender - he just went for the ball. He didn't want to cause any damage and it (the sending off) was too much. The referee is a human being and they make mistakes and we are here to support them. We explained it to each other at the end of the game. He said he thought it was a reckless challenge."
Fulham 0-1 Hull City
Roy Hodgson: "The official said to me that John (Pantsil) complained to him about being abused by somebody. The referee didn't hear anything so he couldn't take any action. It's unusual to see John quite that angry so something has obviously happened out there, but what it is I don't know. I'll investigate it with John. I wouldn't have thought he was abused by fans - if players got angry about that they'd be angry every time a game is played."
Phil Brown: "It was a grind tonight to say the least but we've been pretty before and have been turned over. This match wasn't about being pretty, it was about winning. I wouldn't have said we deserved to win but a clean sheet always gets you somewhere near winning. It wasn't a good performance. We've played much better than that and lost or got a point. Full credit to the defence and Manucho for coming on and scoring the goal."
Comment 92 - 111 of 131
You hit the nail on the @#$% there postmanpatcan - you rule mate!
I'm not even a man u fan, just think your talkin out your backside pal, and with goal assist's, remember that game in europe this season when u got the most dodgy pen award ever? U probably didn't c the game as u were out robbing some1's house or something, stupid scouse.
Well, your intelligence is there for all to see isn't it... You contradicted yourself good and proper there... Point one I am a mister, not both a man and a woman as you just put - D_I_C_K head! Point two making homophobic and racist comments, are not opinions, they are slurs on good people who you know absolutely @#$% all about - it's people like you that let the UK down - go back into the prehistoric seas you slimeball!
When u walk,in the dark,hold your head up high,coz You'll Never Win Anything....
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loserfo ol aka Liverfool aka Liverpoo
Still remember mr bald headed reina celebration couple of months ago when they scored,just like champion.
Before they went crazy and mr fat spanish waiter cracks up.
Hahaha.
well folks this just shows the fear in the chasing teams, why wud they talk about man u so much while they not supporters, talk about your underperfoming teams and @#$% up with ways of fighting the unfomidable man u. maybe squad sa chealsea, liverpool n maybe arsenal but it wud be better if u cud add aston villa isnstead of arsenal. The red devils, hatrick on its way. if at all u think man u is cheating wats preventing you from cheating? its survival of the fittest the weak are diminishing.
No. 104 how many referee assist have Man U had this season. Dumb Man U fan
Mr gafyn_richard_adams78, why do you keep abusing me, am just experessing my honest opinion. Stop being a low life and take it like the woman you are.
Still scoring yeah, how many nil nil's against stoke this year?
to - igwe g is that the best u can come up with, who's gonna b the next manager, i'm sure every man u fan up and down the country is worried sick about that at the moment lol jealous fool.
igwe g?Loserpool deluded fans.Hahaha.Keep on dreamin fools and after this,go crying in the toilet coz you'll never win anything (YNWA)!
Yeah Man U muth F's yeah we sold Keane, but we are still scoring goals, so put a lid on it. Dumb Man U fans
Yeah Dumb Man U fans "am Back" Just like the terminator, you Mutha F's will see defeat at the hands of Inter, you sorry punks know this. Meanwhile thank you for all your love and support, I got your messages, what can I say, its jealousy at its peak.
What the hell is Fergie shouting about, the sorry @#$% should put a lid on his big mouth,cos Man U cheated as usual and he has the right to come and speak rubbish.
Let me ask something here, to all you sorry punk Man U fans, after Fergie at Man U, who next? That's a big Q for all ya sorry punks.
96, you thick and i mean thick stupid fecker!! why not keep your stupid thoughts to your thick self
igwe g you are a small minded bigoted homophobic C_U_N_T!
I commented yesterday that Newcastle would raise their game against Man U and I was right. The onus on NU is to maintain that level of performance against all other teams but they won't. As for Man U, they won the game after making a gift of the first goal and they just keep rolling on. It must be a sickener not to be a Man U fan.
This just goes to show rafa has no clue about the EPL, yes he can compete in europe, and knows how to draw & win games in that compitition, but in our english league he hasn't got a scooby doo, keane was great last nite and could of been liverpool's missing link had he been the given the chance, rafa has got lucky in 2 finals (both on pens) so how has he kept he's job so long, time 4 adios.
Once again Man U have cheated to get the results. Vidic or what ever is name is should have been sent off, also Evra for his foul on Martins, The Ref as usual turned a blind eye, cos its Man U.
In the champions league there will be no paid Ref or intimidated Ref.
Fumbling Van dar sar, will be his dumb best against Inter.
Diving Ronaldo, a red card is due, meanwhile did you see his hair style, with all that cheap oil on it, he is GAY
Rio should be tested before the match for dope
Giggs, well when u retire your speed will be useful in the farms
Rooney, what can I say his looks says it all
Berbatov and Park,learn english motha F
All the rest the media don't pay attention to Stop kidding urselves
COYS !!! Spurs keep marching on, on, ON !!
i hope 2 be a MAN U fan 4EVER.
womble, tanxz 4 dat piece, its great 2 know also dat asnal n chekse have all gone under @ one pt in dere history.what MAN U are doing dis season is so great,setting de pace.my only worry is when SIR ALEX goes i wonder if dis great team will still be doing us proud.Womble tanxz 4 ur info
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