Excellent Saints just fail to get a point at Old Trafford

Last updated : 02 November 2002 By Christian Kelly

Saints named an unchanged side from their comeback victory over Fulham, as Wayne Bridge came through his ankle injury.

The game was always played at a high pace and it's testament to Strachan's coaching that a much fitter Saints side were able to deal with it.

After going a goal down to a cruelly deflected goal, Saints bounced back with a fantastic Fernandes equaliser. Saints could in fact have gone into half time in the lead; James Beattie putting the ball over the bar from a Ormerod cut back.

United were forced into making changes in the second half, with Solskjaer and Forlan entering the game, as Saints were comfortably holding on. The two new attacking options and the introduction of a Saints midfielder for a striker invited a lot of extra pressure. In the end it took a really good 20 yard shot into the top corner from Forlan to grab all three points for United. Apart from that they weren't creating any real chances against a resolute Saints side.

Saints will be absolutely gutted not to have come away with a point. It's this disappointment which shows just how far we've progressed. We have been very comfortably beaten by United in the past, and it's great to see Saints play consistently well against every team in the league.

Here are some brief match highlights:-
5- Fernandes picks up a loose Beckham pass and gets the first cross in the box albeit a little too close to Bartez
6- Van Nistelrooy is ruled offside for the first of several times during the game. He's a bit of a shirt puller too.
7- A Beckham cross is closed down well by Marsden for a United throw.
8- Beckham gets the ball to Scholes but the skidding effort goes out harmlessly for a goal kick.
9- Oakley tries a long shot but slips and the ball goes straight to United.
10- Bridge's clearance comes off his shin and goes thankfully straight to Niemi.
11- Blanc is almost caught by Ormerod and Beattie but the ref gives a foul to United.
11- A good United move involving Veron and van Nistelrooy. Veron's shot goes wide.
15- Phil Neville gets to the edge of the box. His shot deflects off a luckless Wayne Bridge and past Niemi for the opening goal. Saints were a little lacking in the marking department, but there was little anyone could do about the deflection.
17- Saints look to get back into the game immediately with a Fernandes cross having to be cleared by Ferdinand.
18- At the edge of the box, Ormerod passes to Fernandes. The Frenchman cuts back in, putting the ball on his left. He then unleashes a curling shot past Bartez to get Saints level.
20- A Giggs cross misses Scholes in the middle and Marsden puts the ball out for a corner. Oakley has to clear it off the line form the corner.
21- van Nistelrooy appeals for a penalty after claiming he was being held. A Giggs corner just fails to get to Silvestre.
22- United continue to pressure Saints with a shot deflecting off van Nistelrooy for a Saints goal kick.
25 - A Scholes half volley is cleared by Michael Svensson. United are closing Saints down quickly and forcing the pace of the game.
26- A Giggs shot is blocked by birthday boy Dodd for a United corner.
30- Saints have managed to ride United's pressure and are having more control of the game.
34- Veron takes a shot which goes well wide after a good pass form Beckham.
35- Saints get a freekick which goes miles wide of Bartez's goal.
37- Anders Svensson earns Saints their first corner. Bartez gets to the ball before Beattie can get a header in on goal.
38- van Nistelrooy hits back. getting a ball across the Saints goal. There is no United player to take advantage of it however.
39- 41- United take a very quick free kick after a foul from Fernandes. Lundekvam is alert and prevents Giggs getting a shot on target.
43- At the other end, Ormerod cuts the ball back into the centre for Beattie, but he can only shoot over from fifteen yards. Beattie holds his head in his hands.
44- Saints continue to look good before the interval. They get a free kick from twenty five yards out. Fernandes' effort goes over the defence and Michael Svensson's touch takes the ball within inches of going in the net.
45- Ormerod's shot goes straight to Bartez to close out the half.

2nd Half
48- Saints start brightly. Bartez has to palm away a Beattie shot. The ball goes beyond Ormerod who was following up.
49- United respond with a corner after good tackling from Michael Svensson.
50- van Nistelrooy puts another ball across the face of the goal which Michael Svensson is n hand to clear. The tempo of the game is still very high.
57- Wayne Bridge's shot deflects wide for a corner, but Saints can't make anything from it.
60- Beckham's cross goes straight into Niemi's arms.
61- Anders Svensson puts a shot over the United bar.
68- Although United are edging the possession, they aren't creating any chances. Ferguson introduces Solskjaer for Silvestre, forcing Phil Neville back into left back.
70- van Nistelrooy goes down once again in the box but Rennie waves play on.Although Saints are on the back foot at the moment they are holding on well.
74- Some idiot runs on to the pitch interrupting the game an in particular a promising Saints move down the flank. Hopefully he'll be banned for life.
74- Saints make a change. Brett Ormerod is sacrificed, and Rory Delap comes on to strengthen the Saints midfield. While Delap will add a bit of steel to the Saints defensively, I'd have preferred to see Anders Svensson come off. It's always dangerous to invite pressure and it will be a nervy last quarter of an hour.
77- Giggs gets the ball across the box after an excellent run. Saints are defending deeper and deeper as United come forward.
80- United bring on Forlan for Phil Neville. They are going for it now, and with Saints a striker short, they have no need to keep their defensive shape so tight.
80- Beckham takes a United corner but Saints get it clear.
81- Beckham gets a shot in but it goes comfortably wide of the post.
84- It's Forlan's turn to get an effort on goal, but it too goes wide after Delap puts some pressure on the striker.
85- Saints get a break, with Marsden heading wide from a Fernandes cross.
85- United take the lead with a thumping 20 yard shot form Forlan going into the top corner. Saints weren't able to close him down.
86- With a lead and Saints gutted, United take off van Nistelrooy and bring on O'Shea.
88- Strachan brings on Delgado for Marsden, to see if Saints can get back into the game.
89- Bartez saves just in front of Delgado after Beattie's flick on form a free kick.
Although Saints pile on some late pressure they don't get any chances on goal and come away with nothing after a really strong performance.