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Match Report :
Alan McCready named a lot of young players in his starting eleven as was expected due to the injury situation.
Michael Doyle held on to his place in midfield as David McCabe was rested. Surprisingly Bianchi was also rested and 21 year old Nicola Scardovi started on left wing.
Sertling continued in central midfield with Argentinian youngster Lucho Gonzalez dropping into a holding role.
The most surprising fact was instead of the usual 4-4-2 Alan had decided to go with a 4-5-1, which saw United captain Dominic Ferguson return to the starting line up, up front, following his layoff.
United's first half was forgettable with Tottenham's midfielders enjoying a lot of posession as they had in the league cup victory 2 weeks back. Ottensen and Riquelme knocked repeated on United's back wall as both players played some scintilating posession football. Jurgen Oswald seemed to be having a torrid time, with an error almost letting a shot from Riquelme bounce over the goal line.
With Hristic fine form continuing in defense United had managed to keep out Tottenham in the first 45 as both sides went in level at 0-0. United however seemed to have lost the psychological battle.
The second half saw Doyle replaced by midfield maestro Marco Bianchi in an attacking midfield role. That change along with a " hair dryer " team talk saw United's attack look much more potent and the 4-5-1 began to reap benefits.
51 mins into the game Hristic disposessed Erwin tuinstra to send a long pass down the right flack to Juan Granados feet. The 23 year old spaniard then sent a sublime early cross ball to front man Dom Ferguson who left Tottenham's back four eating dust in his wake as he coolly slotted home the first goal of the night. Meulenberg was distraught but no goalkeeper would have saved that shot.
Tottenham's attacks seemed to lose all venom after that goal. The spurs frontmen were cut off easily by Turk, Milan and Hristic. Turk unfortunately picked up an injury with a heavy tackle on Ottensen and was stretchered off. Adamson stepped in to pick up his 3rd game of the season.
At the 84th minute Bianchi continued to pull the strings in midfield as he came deep to receive a pass from Adamson which he lobbed over the spurs defense to the feet of Ferguson who drove the ball low across the keeper Klein to score his second of the evening.
Granados and Hristic picked up minor injuries as the game drew to a close with Tottenham tamely surrendering the victory to a rampant United lead by Dominic Ferguson.
Post Match Interview with Dominic Ferguson
Hi Dom, great game today ?
Absolutely ! .... We played really well in the second half and looked very dangerous in attack. The defense won it for us though today. Milan and Hristic were fantastic.
Glad to return from injury with a brace ?
Its a relief. My form has been patchy all season. I had just gotten back on scoring form when i picked up the injury. Fortunately i felt good today when i took to the field and I thought i did fairly well to take my chances.
Did the team talk have an effect ? The boys seemed much more potent after the first 45.
Well ... we were a bit disappointed with the first half. We were defending well but our forward game wasnt working. The manager brought on Marco at halftime. That gave us more experience and composure in the middle. He also leaned in a bit into me and that got me going in the second half as well. Pretty happy over all.
Theres a Champions league game in three days. Enough time for the boys to get ready ?
Well the manager will pick the right team im sure. We've rested a few players. De Coninck, Martinetti, Robinson, Hardy and Svec should all be fit for it. I'm sure Alan has his plans in place.
Good luck then!
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