The 4thegame.com regular feature that brings you the best of the coverage from the UK press. It's not a mere news round-up, but instead gives you all the top headlines, outrageous puns and crazy stories...
Headline of the day...
FIGHTING TALK
There's nothing the newspapers love more than a good punch-up that they can be morally-outraged by and make up ridiculous rumours about, so you can imagine how excited they are about the 'pitch battle' at Stamford Bridge. The Daily Mail say that Sir Alex Ferguson and the FA are looking into it...
Hold the back page...
BRIDGE RACISM STORM
Even more exciting for the press is that racism has been brought into it, and The Sun report on claims that: "Chelsea and Manchester United were at war last night over allegations that racism sparked the Battle of the Bridge."
RACE ROW
The Daily Mirror say: "Manchester United were last night forced into a humiliating climbdown over claims racism was at the centre of the Stamford Bridge bust-up."
EVRA 'RACIALLY ABUSED' PRIOR TO PITCH BRAWL
The Guardian report on those claims that the fight between United players and Chelsea staff was sparked off by racist taunts aimed at Patrice Evra.
EVRA FACES FA INVESTIGATION OVER STAMFORD BRIDGE BRAWL
The Independent say that Chelsea are standing by the groundsman who fought with Evra and have no plans to sack him.
UNITED STARS IN FA PROBE
Unfortunately for United, it is their players who in hot water, even those not involved in the brawl, with as many as seven facing FA charges, according to the Daily Star.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Daily Express meanwhile report on Michael Ballack's claims that Chelsea will go on from this to win the Premier League and Champions League.
Other top stories...
FERGUSON'S GAMBLE RAISES STAKES
If the press couldn't quite agree on what happened in the post-match scuffle, they certainly know who was to blame for United's defeat, with Henry Winter in the Daily Telegraph writing: "Ferguson must get involved with his players. He must now play the motivator and ensure his tactics work. Only victory over Barcelona can justify Saturday's team-sheet."
FERGUSON THE GAMBLER BANKS ON PERFECT FINISH
Martin Samuel in The Times writes: "Clearly Sir Alex Ferguson does not think it feasible that on the last day of the season Manchester United could drop two points against Wigan Athletic, as Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have done in the past four months. Plainly, he believes it impossible that Saturday's meeting with West Ham United should end in anything other than victory, unlike the game in December when Manchester United lost at Upton Park, as did Liverpool in January."
DECISION TO SIDELINE RONALDO COULD HAVE SHUNTED UNITED OFF TRACK
John Dillon in the Daily Express says: "One of the arts of football management involves the ability to see around corners. So Sir Alex Ferguson may yet be proven right by his decision to keep the nation's best player on the bench at the biggest match of the season."
CURBISHLEY AND KEEGAN DELIGHTED TO INFLUENCE TITLE RACE
After the 2-2 draw between their clubs, Kevin Keegan and Alan Curbishley's attentions turned to the title race, as they'll be playing Chelsea and United respectively next weekend, reports The Independent.
MARCUS IN HOT WATER AFTER HIS ICY BLAST
According to the Daily Star, the only interesting thing about Wigan's 0-0 draw with Reading was visiting keeper Marcus Hahnemann's half-naked rant about the lack of hot water in the showers after the match...
KAMARA'S INJECTION GIVES FULHAM THE GLIMPSE OF A FUTURE
Meanwhile, Fulham managed an astonishing turnaround at Manchester City to keep their hopes for staying in the top flight alive, and The Guardian say that they have Diomansy Kamara to thank.
UP YOURS!
The Daily Mirror say that Bolton are determined to avoid relegation so that they can 'ram the words down the throats of critics who are longing to wave them goodbye."
ROY CRISIS
Meanwhile, Sunderland may have beaten Middlesbrough to secure their top flight future, but The Sun say that they are facing trouble with Roy Keane over whether they can match his ambitions.
4thegame Manchester United homepage
