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Skysports.com
21/08/2004
UNITED MAKE WENGER EAT HIS WORDS
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 ARSENAL 1
Arsene Wenger did all the talking before the match, questionning Manchester United's title credentials. But at the end of the afternoon, opposing manager Faiz Khan had the last laugh as his side overcame the Gunners in a very tight and cagey affair at Old Trafford. Goals from Alan Smith and Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win for United with Thierry Henry scoring a consolation late on in the game. Khan made three changes to his line up this afternoon. Tim Howard was back between the posts after his international duties. Gabriel Heinze cam in for the injured Mikael Silvestre and John O'Shea came for the rested Anthony Vanden Borre. The game began very scrappily as both teams were very cautious and trying not to give away any opportunities. Close to half time and Arsenal had a goal denied for a foul by Pascal Cygan on Wes Brown going for a corner. Then they missed a great chance as Patrick Vieira stormed clear through and his shot went agonisingly wide to Khan's relief. It finished at half time Manchester United 0 Arsenal 0. United began the second half much brighter as Louis Saha forced Jens Lehmann into two top class saves. Arsenal didnt take this warning very seriously and they were made to pay halfway through the second half. Paul Scholes picked the ball up inside his own half and fizzed a delightful diagonal 55 yard pass into the path of Smith who beat Phillipe Senderos and then took the ball round Lehmann before tapping in. Old Trafford was buzzing and seven minutes later, they got louder as United finished Arsenal off. Ronaldo came on for Ryan Giggs and picked up the ball on the halfway line, beat one man, megged the other and clipped an elegant piece of chippery to leave Lehmann looking mesmerised to the full. Arsenal did get a consolation in the final minute when Liam Miller pushed Dennis Bergkamp to the floor and Henry cooly converted the spot-kick. What a way to answer your rivals comments. Manchester United have beaten their arch rivals twice in the opening month of the new season and dealt a real psychological blow to Arsenal already this season. KHANI, KHANI, KHANI shouted the Old Trafford as they heralded their new manager.

Man Utd : Howard, G Neville, Heinze, Brown, O'Shea, Keane (Fletcher 83), Scholes, Miller, Giggs (Ronaldo 62), Smith (van Nistelrooy 83), Saha

Arsenal : Lehmann, Lauren, Clichy, Cygan, Toure (Senderos 12), Ljungberg, Pires (Pennant 60), Vieira, Edu, Reyes (Bergkamp 33), Henry

Goals : Man Utd : Smith (65), Ronaldo (72)
Arsenal : Henry (90)

Referee : Alan Wiley
Attendance : 67830

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Premier League
23/08/2004
O'SHEA HAS A GREAT WEEK
John O'Shea came in for the rested Anthony Vanden Borre against Arsenal at the weekend and his performance certainly impressed the Premier League panel when selecting their team of the week. Here is the team in full:
Shay Given (Newcastle United)
Bruno N'Gotty (Bolton Wanderers)
Paul Konchesky (Charlton Athletic)
Mark Fish (Charlton Athletic)
John O'Shea (Manchester United)
Dennis Rommedahl (Charlton Athletic)
Robert Pires (Arsenal)
Gaizka Mendieta (Middlesbrough)
Thomas Gravesen (Everton)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
Patrick Kluivert (Newcastle United)

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Thanks for the message expecto patronum and yes i like to describe each match in detail. i use 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation. i have maximum tempo, full closing down, direct passing, hard tackling. i also keep the mentality normal and when im in trouble, i go all out attack - did this for the league game against aresnal when i brought ronaldo on and it worked immediately. so it can be used, only at the right time and a lucky time for me.

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Sky Sports 1
25/08/2004
SECOND STRING UNITED SEE OFF BENFICA
BENFICA 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (Man Utd win 6-1 on aggregate)
Manchester United made their comfortable progress to the Champions League in Portugal as a under-strength side overcame Benfica. Goals from Darren Fletcher and Louis Saha gave United the win on the night. With a tough trip to Stamford Bridge coming up on Saturday, Faiz Khan decided to name a second string eleven. From the last game, only four made the starting lineup - Gabriel Heinze, Liam Miller, Alan Smith and Louis Saha. It was no surprise that Benfica, who were at full strength, started very strongly forcing Roy Carroll into some serious saves. United killed the tie off just past the half hour as a cute little through ball from Kleberson allowed to Fletcher to calmly stroke home. Fletcher later went off with a knock which will rule him out of action for a week. From then on, Miller had a great chance to score his first ever goal for United, hitting the bar from six yards. The half ended with United in the ascendancy at the score Benfica 0 Manchester United 1. The second half saw United step up even more and they scored another goal dead on the hour mark as a neat one-two with substitute Paul Scholes allowed Saha to go wide of the keeper and tap into the far corner. Then Khan saw the piece of right stupidity that soured the night when Smith was shown the red card. Already booked for diving, Smith went and did it again and the referee had no other option but to rightly show the second yellow card. Benfica did get a late consolation when Manuel Fernandes struck home from the edge of the box. The scoring stopped there as United got through to the group stages of the Champions League with an easy victory. Its the kind of result Khan needed to build some more confidence as they now face Premiership contenders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Benfica : Moreira, Miguel, Fyssas, Luisao, Alcides, Petit (Fernandes 67), Almeida, Carlitos, Simao (Amoreirinha 77), Zahovic (Dos Santos 77), Sokota

Man Utd : Carroll, P Neville, Heinze, Vanden Borre (Brown 50), O'Shea, Miller, Fortune, Kleberson, Fletcher (Scholes 50), Smith, Saha

Goals : Benfica : Fernandes (90)
Man Utd : Fletcher (33), Saha (60)

Referee : Roelof Luinge
Attendance : 64962

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Eurosport
25/08/2004
UNITED HANDED VERY TOUGH GROUP
Manchester United maybe one of the favourites for the Champions League this season - but Faiz Khan's side will have to work for progression to the knockout stages this season. They have been drawn with top teams from France, Spain and Italy - Paris St. Germain, Valencia and Inter Milan. Khan will have to look out for Pauleta, Pablo Aimar and Adriano as well as other dangerous players from the three sides. Khan is said to be surprising pleased with the draw. The reasons for this this is because if he gets through this group, at least one favourite will be eliminated. Manchester United will begin in the San Siro against Inter Milan where Alan Smith will be suspended and he will be kicking himself!

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The Star
27/08/2004
MOURINHO CONFIDENT AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S GAME
Ahead of tomorrow's game at Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinho has told Manchester United manager Faiz Khan that morale in the Chelsea dressing room is extremely high and that his side fear nothing that comes their way. He has also told Khan not to bother attempting any mind games as it would not have any effect on his team. Upon hearing these comments, Khan responded by saying that he admits that Chelsea are genuine contenders for the Premiership title this season. He also adds that they have the quality and strength in depth to challenge for the top honours this season.

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MirrorMania
28/08/2004
GIGGS GRABS LATE POINT FOR UNITED
CHELSEA 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Manchester United had Ryan Giggs to thank as they were made to come from behind to come away from Stamford Bridge with their unbeaten record intact to six matches. There were two changes to the starting lineup from the Arsenal game - Anthony Vanden Borre coming in for John O'Shea and Ruud van Nistelrooy coming in for Louis Saha. And one of the returning men gave United a nice and early lead as a powerful run through from van Nistelrooy allowed him to arrow a low drive into the far corner past Petr Cech. Paul Scholes had a great opportunity to score a second goal electing to chip rather than power his shot and it went over. That missed opportunity was a costly one as Chelsea levelled the match up almost immediately. A fantastic run and pass from Arjen Robben allowed Mateja Kezman to bend the ball in from a very acute angle - a well taken goal. That was the last meaningful piece of action in the first half with the score at Chelsea 1 Manchester United 1. After the interval, Chelsea began to put United under some very intense pressure with Tim Howard providing a very frustrating barrier between them and a second goal. He made some outstanding stops to keep Man Utd on level terms. But the pressure finally paid off for Chelsea fifteen minutes from the end as a superb run and ball from the outstanding Wayne Bridge gave Eidur Gudjohnsen to stroke the ball home. Faiz Khan was forced to bring off a very tired van Nistelrooy and put on fresh legs in Louis Saha. United were not down and out as they found a late equaliser eight minutes from the end as Paul Scholes' great pass across the floor put Giggs in the clear and he made use of the opportunity by tucking the ball into the bottom corner to notch an all important 1st goal of the season. That was great character from United who looked lost and Faiz Khan will be very pleased with the fighting spirit shown by his side, even if United fell two places in the Premiership table to fourth.

Chelsea : Cech, Ferreira, Bridge, Terry, Gallas, Makelele (Drogba 73), Lampard, Geremi, Mutu (Tiago 62), Robben, Kezman (Gudjohnsen 62)

Man Utd : Howard, G Neville, Heinze, Brown, Vanden Borre, Keane, Scholes, Miller (Ronaldo 45), Giggs, Smith, van Nistelrooy (Saha 75)

Goals : Chelsea : Kezman (32), Gudjohnsen (75)
Man Utd : van Nistelrooy (3), Giggs (82)

Referee : David Foster
Attendance : 42435

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PremierLeague.com
30/08/2004
SMITH REWARDED FOR PERFORMANCE
Alan Smith's terrific performance at Chelsea on Saturday afternoon earned him a slot in the Premiership team of the week. Here is the team in full:
Magnus Hedman (West Bromwich Albion)
Olivier Tebily (Birmingham City)
Paul Robinson (West Bromwich Albion)
Darren Purse (West Bromwich Albion)
Sylvain Distin (Manchester City)
Khaliou Fadiga (Bolton Wanderers)
Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers)
Jason Koumas (West Bromwich Albion)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Alan Smith (Manchester United)
Marcus Bent (Everton)

retired_hyunmeesohn83

Very neat and subtle story! I like it

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BBC Sport
01/09/2004
UNITED SHOW REAL CLASS AT HAWTHORNS
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 3
Manchester United returned to second place in the Premiership table as they eventually saw off a very resilient West Brom side. Goals from player of the month Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville (again?) and Alan Smith helped Faiz Khan's side to the three points. Paul Robinson got West Brom's goal. Khan made one change to the United line up as Mikael Silvestre made his comeback from injury in place of Gabriel Heinze. Manchester United were off to a very scary start as West Brom took the lead inside seven minutes. Robinson picked the ball up and crossed the ball and it ran all the way to Geoff Horsfield, who in turn picked out Robinson to firmly head West Brom into a dream lead. Manchester United were stung into action from that and they stunned West Brom with two goals inside three minutes. Firstly, Ruud van Nistelrooy forced the ball through to Giggs who showed true world class ability by lifting the ball over Russell Hoult and into the far corner. And then amazingly United were ahead just moments after the equaliser as a superb run and pass from Giggs picked out Gary Neville and he produced a cool finish for his 2nd goal of the season. Man United then dominated the rest of the half with van Nistelrooy blowing a chance over the bar. The first half ended West Bromwich Albion 1 Manchester United 2. The second half was quite even compared as both teams tried to turn the game. Horsfield was very unlucky to see his seemingly unstoppable header tipped over by Tim Howard. United were guilty of some glaring misses from Giggs and van Nistelrooy. Liam Miller also had a chance unmarked - only to head over. Khan would have been concerned with his side only just infront, but United finally made sure of victory near the end of the match. Some slack defending from the West Brom defence let the ball come through to Smith and he punished the mistake by sidestepping Hoult before tapping in. So, another great victory for Faiz Khan and his side as they stay unbeaten in all competitions as they head off for an international break. They are now four points behind 100% Newcastle United in second place.

West Bromwich Albion : Hedman, Moore, Purse (Gaardsoe 72), Albrechtsen, Telfer (Contra 61), Robinson, Johnson, Stevic, Delaney (Diao 61), Horsfield, Kanu

Man Utd : Howard, G Neville, Silvestre, Brown, Vanden Borre, Keane, Scholes, Miller, Giggs (Ronaldo 88), Smith, van Nistelrooy

Goals : West Bromwich Albion : Robinson (7)
Man Utd : Giggs (19), G Neville (21), Smith (87)

Referee : Andy D'Urso
Attendance : 30478