Yesterday we saluted Paul Scholes and today he rolled back the years to show why he has been so worthy of praise over the years.
Going into the game both sides needed to take 3 points, us to keep our title hopes alive, them to carry on their chase for the elusive 4th spot. Looks like it’s game on for us then!
The ‘Old Guard’ enjoyed mixed fortunes today. Gary Neville had a good game and for the most part along with Antonio Valencia kept the threat of Craig Bellamy down the left to the minimum. Did his part getting forward but was caught out occasionally. Ryan Giggs had an off game. Missed a couple chances including a sexual (yes I said sexual!) cross from the right that was begging to be headered but he somehow let go past him. Although he had a poor game by his own high standards, when you’ve put in the kind of service he has, it’s quickly forgotten.
But Paul Scholes, what can I possibly say to sum up how great he is? People may write him off and claim he isn’t as good as he was but today his passing and overall effort summed up how much the derby means especially to the local lads in the team. He got about, put in the challenges and with the last roll of the dice rose to head home the winner from a Patrice Evra cross after breaking into the box unmarked. Neville said he ‘passed City to death’, the header was the nail in the coffin.
Paul Scholes will get all the praise but Nemanja Vidic too should get some applause. His performance was solid and assured. He gave nothing away in the air and he and Jonny Evans kept Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor quiet. It was one of his best games in a long time and when the ball broke in the box after van der Sar flapped at a corner it was Vidic who was there to make sure City didn’t capitalise. It’s is great to see him back performing at the kind of level we know he can and hopefully he maintains it.
It was great to see Wayne Rooney in the team today today but unfortunately he wasn’t fully fit. He didn’t look like himself and although he still got into the game, it was obvious he is just getting back from injury. With just a couple of games left, lets hope he can pick up where he left off prior to the ankle injury.
How pissed must City feel? 3 times this season we have done them with late goals! Makes the victory all the more sweet I say and they will get no sympathy from anyone here at The Busby Way.
We have player our noisy neighbours 4 times this season winning 3 times, if we do go onto lift the title as much as I enjoyed Owen’s last gasp goal in the 4-3 and the Rooney’s even more in the Carling Cup semi final, Paul Scholes header could be the most important of the 3.
