FOOTBALL

FERGIE WEL RUNS DEEP ON OFF NIGHT FOR FABIO

Danny Welbeck and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann in action

Thursday September 24,2009

By Peter Edwards

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MANCHESTER United’s defence of the Carling Cup started in shaky fashion until Danny Welbeck settled the nerves of their 10 men.

Young defender Fabio was guilty of placing United in a perilous position, correctly shown automatic red by referee Peter Walton for denying the visitors a goal-scoring opportunity on the half-hour.

And that left United’s grasp on the competition they won in the penalty shoot-out against Spurs last season looking tenuous.

Welbeck struck at just the right time, however, taking Michael Carrick’s short, sharp pass and playing a neat exchange with Michael Owen before racing through a stationary defence and converting from eight yards.

United’s best-laid plan to give key youngsters a run-out was undone – and with it, potentially, their defence of this trophy – after jusst 30 minutes when Brazilian left-back Fabio was sent off for a professional foul.

Wes Brown misjudged a long punt from Segundo Castillo, while under pressure from Stefan Maierhofer, and Michael Kightly sped through the middle and outpaced Fabio only to be rugby-tackled as Fabio fell to the ground just outside the box.

Luis Nani and George Elokobi in action

David Jones’ shot from the resulting free-kick from the edge of the area drew a magnificent one-handed save from Tomasz Kuszczak as United almost suffered another blow.

Sir Alex Ferguson made a full 11 changes to the side that started the tempestuous Manchester derby on Sunday yet, such is the depth of even the fringe areas of his squad, that United were still able to name a line-up containing eight full internationals.

Owen, the match-winner from Sunday’s unforgettable derby, was rewarded with a rare start although the intriguing selection was the United bench where Ferguson placed Rio Ferdinand – rare to see him on Carling Cup duty.

Unlike Ferdinand, some of the younger United players clearly had a point to prove, and Fabio, ironically as it would turn out, opened the game brightly.

But, in the early exchanges at least, there was a spark missing from United’s play in the final third, Nani beating George Elokobi in the ninth minute, for example, but sliding a cross intended for Owen too close to Marcus Hahnemann.

Indeed, it was the visitors who carved out the first opening, after 12 minutes, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake creating room for himself on the edge of the area but sending his shot high and wide on the turn.

Nani was growing in influence, however, and played a neat one-two with Carrick only to see his strike blocked by Christophe Berra.

Nani had a 20th minute free-kick, awarded for handball by Karl Henry, strike the wall with Darron Gibson almost finding Federico Macheda with a pass back into the box.

Owen’s pass soon sent Nani haring down the right although the quality of the final ball was lacking. Nani, United’s best hope of a goal at this stage, squared for Gibson who cleared the bar from 20 yards.

But there were still sporadic reminders from the visitors that United had to be on their guard.

Jones provided one such, midway through the half, when he was allowed to run across the face of the area and bide his time before unleashing a shot smothered by the dive of Kuszczak.

Despite Fabio’s dismissal, and the near-miss from the free-kick, United’s 10 men tried to respond, Owen heading a Gary Neville cross directly at American Hahnemann.

Before the interval, Carrick and Welbeck also chanced their arm from distance but failed to find the target.

The first half might have ended with Wolves a goal to the good, however, as a terribly mistimed clearance from Neville put Jones clean through only for him to hit an equally bad first-time shot high over the goal.

The second half started in a similar pedestrian fashion although a break inspired by Kightly forced Brown into a superb defensive header, putting the ball behind for a corner with Maierhofer poised to convert.

That corner was met by Berra with a powerful header, despite the defensive pressure, that flew just over. Welbeck responded with a strong run down the left and the winger cut in before picking out Gibson with a pass.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): Kuszczak; Neville, Brown, Evans, Fabio; Welbeck (King 81), Carrick, Gibson, Nani; Owen (Valencia 69), Macheda (De Laet 32). Sent off: Fabio 30. Goal: Welbeck 66.

Wolverhampton (4-4-2): Hahnemann; Foley, Berra, Craddock, Elokobi; Kightly (Keogh 77), Castillo (Milijas 46), Henry, Jones; Ebanks-Blake (Doyle 66), Maierhofer.

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).