Park Ji-sung struck a stoppage time winner to give Sir Alex Ferguson
a perfect 24th anniversary present as Manchester United manager.
It was perhaps a fitting way for Ferguson to celebrate his milestone
given the number of times his side have snatched victory in such
a manner.
Mick McCarthy will not be the last manager to thrash about in frustration
after United old-boy Sylvan Ebanks-Blake had looked to have snatched
a deserved point for his team, cancelling out Park's opener in the
first half.
However Park's run into the penalty area in the final seconds went
unchallenged and he found the bottom corner of the net.
But it was not all good news for United, with the future of Owen
Hargreaves again under scrutiny after the midfielder lasted just
five minutes after starting for the first time since September 2008
before limping off with a hamstring injury.The subject of Hargreaves'
fitness has been the subject of debate for a number of weeks now.
At one point his Colorado-based surgeon Dr Richard Steadman claimed
he was ready to play, only for Ferguson to step in and explain the
midfielder had suffered a setback in his recovery programme.
Only a week ago, Ferguson suggested he had no idea when Hargreaves
would return, so the midfielder's presence in this afternoon's starting
line-up was a big shock. His departure was probably less of a surprise.
After making a spirited start, the England star signalled to the
bench he had a problem following an attempted cross from his right-wing
station.
Hargreaves tried to continue but it was impossible and he made
his way off, first to the touchline, then down the tunnel, a dejected
figure, whose career is now thrown into fresh doubt, even though
his latest setback is so obviously nothing to do with the dodgy
knees that have kept him out for so long. |
