Minute By Minute - Manchester United v Celtic

[jgraham]

Its clear so far that our best attacking options are down th eflanks, Celtic seem unable to cope .

berbatov an rooney combine on the edge of the area, but ball is cleared by celtic.

 

[jgraham]

Rooney with an excellent scissor kick from a nani cross that is well blocked from the Celtic defender.

 

[Solius]

Nani gets a cross in right by the byline and Wayne Rooney scissor kicks the ball, great leap by Rooney by it is blocked by the defender.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Cross by nani, acrobatic effort there by Rooney Well blocked.

Still not sure about our efforts going through the middle.

Stunning effort by Caldwell, saved well by VDS. Celtic Corner

 

[Solius]

Brilliant shot from Caldwell, rocketed at VDS who tips it over.

 

[jgraham]

Again that attack stemmed from the right flank, naylor needs to be got at.

Caldwell forces another save from VDS with a stinging effort from the edge of the area. celtic corner that is defended by berbatov.

Two good saves so far from VDS

 

[Solius]

A reminder from Celtic that although they are not getting much of the ball, they can create chances like that.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

The saves VDS has had to make have been long range which is probably Celtic's best route. It's a bit worrying though that they've already created some decent chances.

 

[Solius]

Nani takes out the referee with a pass, knocking him over

 

[jgraham]

Nani takes the ref down with an attempted cross

It has to be said that nani has started the game well

 

[Solius]

Ronaldo earns a free-kick in Ronaldo territory

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Nani topples the ref. Classic dive there

FK there to us. Which I expect Ronaldo to take.

 

[jgraham]

Free kick from 35 yards maybe, Ronaldo looking to get a shot in.

Central free kick, hits defender and is cleared by celtic.

 

[jgraham]

Quality pass/cross from Rooney towards Berbatov, berbatov catches defender in the chest attempting to control.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Unintentional but dangerous play by Berbatov there.

VDS looked calm and composed at the back tonight. Going back to his usual self and not the jittery form he showed at the beginning of the season.

 

[jgraham]

Naylor crosses from the left which VDS gathers well, as much as he seems a weak link in defense for celtic, Naylor has got forward for them to good effect.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Lee Naylor definitely more effective going forward than defending against Ronaldo. Lazy ball there by our Portugeezer.

 

[Solius]

Celtic win a free-kick, Berbatov fouls Robson.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

McGeady goes on a mazy run trying to win a free kick at the edge of the box. No one takes the bait.

Yet Barry Robson wins one instead.

Nakamura is over it. Yet he goes for a cross instead of a shot.

 

[jgraham]

Brief overview suggests as has been said that Celtic are happy to sit back and let us come onto them, whilst they'll look to hit us on breaks and with well thought out attacks.

Our best chances have come from the flanks and i believe its the way we should look to cause celtic problems.

Robson wins a freekick for celtic in a dangerous position, nakamura stands over.

 

[Solius]

VDS has had two poor kicks in a row now.

 

[jgraham]

Freekick comes to nothing.

 

[jgraham]

Anderson plays berbatov in, his effort is well blocked. Ball comes to Ronaldo who should really have done better than hit wide.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Celtic fans chant Keano Keano (I think). Yeah you guys got him when he was past his best.

Ronaldo just fires wide. Still of his usual best. Should have scored.

 

[Solius]

Nani wins the ball back in the midfield and plays it to Anderson, Anderson feeds Berbatov who can't get a shot away, the ball breaks to Ronaldo whop hits it left-footed just wide of the goal, he is disappointed with himself.

 

[jgraham]

Nani plays a good ball into the box from the byline that is well cleared corner once again, nani to take - Berbatov Goal!!

 

[Solius]

MANCHESTER UNITED 1 - 0 CELTIC

GOALSCORER: Dimitar Berbatov

Nani plays in a corner which he originally won, the ball bounces around in the box and John O'Shea knocks it to Berbatov who flicks the ball passed Boruc. It must be pointed out that Berbatov is marginally offside when the ball is played to him, but it is a goal.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

This game is making me hungry for some reason. Nani has looked really impressive on wings. I thought he had twenty really decent minutes on Saturday. Corner to us.

Goal to United

It's BERBA Time!

Corner from Nani, played into the middle (for once) Bit of a scramble, O'Shea finds Berbatov who is clearly offside who tucks it away. Berbatov's refusal to celebrate may suggest he knew it shouldn't have stood.

 

[jgraham]

Bit of a scramble in the box, but in the right place at the right time. Maybe slightly offside on review.

 

[jgraham]

Replays do suggest Berbatov was stood in an offside position when he scored, missed by the officials though and the goal stands.

 

[Solius]

Nani is playing really well so far, much more productive then earlier in the season.

 

[jgraham]

Great defending again from Evans against Robson.

Again their attack comes down our right hand side, their left.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Evans is making us not miss Rio which is some feat. Helps though when you are up against an out of form aussie midget.

 

[jgraham]

United lookig dangerous again, Anderson hits an effort over the bar from 25 yards, getting closer.

 

[Solius]

Anderson tries to please many members of the Caf with an attempt on goal. He shoots from outside the earlier in an attempt to curl it into the corner, it goes over the bar.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Anderson comes close from long range. (Comes close for Anderson) tries to place it to the right hand corner.

 

[Solius]

Anderson wins the ball back in the RB position and gets a freekick, great play.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Anderson is giving a great hardworking performance in the middle.

It's Rooney's time to come deep now as Berbatov stays forward.

 

[jgraham]

Uniteds front 4 of Nani, Ronaldo, Berbatov and Rooney are causing Celtic plenty of problems at the back.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Ronaldo shows he can still play the role of a conventional winger when he wants to with a terrific cross that just gets cleared away.

Both Ronaldo and Berbatov are working their socks off for once.